Steve,
An old issue that has many still puzzled.
Odd that you have analogue 5.1 outs and no decoding??
My Poineer 626 has full decoding but no volume..bummer.
So I either tell the player via the remove to mix the 5.1 down the two channel stereo and sent the L & R front straight into the pre amp which acts as a unbalanced to balanced converter, or I send the 2 rear surrounds to a power amp with level attenuators at a re set position.
I usually play stuff like the Eagles as a nominal level (bloody loud) and the sweet spot for overall balance is easy to find.
Although I have no control over distance delays an silly effects I find this approach gives excellent transparency that so called Wonder boxes no matter what you spend notoriously destroy.
Six Gang Dact or Thel attenuators can be found but ideally you should feed your amps from a low impedance source and some class A biased buffers post the attenuator would be an excellent solution. Kind of a ML or Krell quality A/V unit without all the frills (something like the discrete opamps in the hi end crossover would do the job nicely).
The above could easily be arranged with unbalaanced in and balanced out. Wow 7. 1 channels of balanced sound, now that would be something. I've yet to see an A/V preamp with that feature.
Just my 2 cents worth.
Ian
<TABLE cols=1 width="85%"><TBODY><TR><TD> CT1 audio attenuator CT1 STEPPED ATTENUATOR
DESCRIPTION:
The Danish Audio connect's(DACT) CT1 is a high quality stepped 24-position attenuator or volume control for high quality amplifiers and other equipment that you can ever owned nowadays.
It is supplied in a two channel (stereo) version with two individual Printed Circuit Boards mounted on a two wafer rotary switch. The series resistor network consists of 23 non-inductive low noise SMD metal film resistors.
The layout of the PC Boards and the choice of resistors has reduced the signal path to a minimum length (Patent is Pending).
All contacts and PC Board traces are gold plated to ensure long-term reliability.
The rotary switch is a gold plated high precision switch manufactured in Switzerland and is a make-before-break type.
The CTl is designed for maximum sound quality, accuracy and reliability.
Standard impedance in stereo are 10K, 20K, 50K, 100K and 250K ohm, ohmic law type A.
Mono type impedance are 10K, 100K & 250K. Ohmic law type A.
Other custom designed versions are offered.
CT1 4 wafer version for truly balanced stereo
APPLICATIONS:
Volume control for high quality Hi-Fi amplifiers etc.
Volume control for professional audio equipment
Attenuator in measuring and test equipment
<LI>Upgrading existing equipment
FEATURES:
Low noise, metal film SMD resistor network
Very compact design
Entire signal path excluding resistors is
gold plated
Five times shorter signal path
<LI>Reduced inductance and stray capacitance
ADVANTAGES:
Improved sound quality
Improved accuracy
Improved reliability
Increased bandwidth
Improve tracking between the two channels
<LI>Reduced distortion
OVERALL DIMENSIONS:
31 x 37 x 71mm(L)
<HR width="33%" SIZE=1> CT2 Stepped Audio Attenuator, 6 Deck version for Home Theatre/AV Audio
* for application of 5.1 channel system
<HR width="33%" SIZE=1>
CT2 Stepped Audio Attenuator, 8 Channel for 7.1 Channel Home Theatre/AV Audio
*for applications of 7.1 channel system
The 8-gang attenuators feature 24 positions like the other DACT audio attenuators, and same unique specifications like for instance:
- Bandwidth (10kOhm): 50MHz
- Channel matching: +/-0.05dB
- THD: 0.0001%
- Mechanical life, min.: 25,000 cycles
<HR width="33%" SIZE=1></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>