DUAL VOLUME VS. SINGLE VOLUME CONTROLS
When you purchase the “Integrated” configuration of this amplifier you will have the
option of setting it up with ONE or TWO volume controls. Here are the pros and cons of
each:
Single volume control -
Pros: Ease of Use, stereo image is always centered.
Cons: No way to adjust balance
Dual volume controls -
Pros: Ability to adjust balance
Cons: slightly more difficult to use.
The main question one would have is why not simply have a volume control and a
balance control? Reason: That puts two controls in the signal path instead of one. In
an amplifier with only two resistors and one capacitor, adding additional parts, like
these controls, in the signal path is audible. Remember, less is more and the goal is to
preserve transparency - one of this amplifiers strongest traits.
Dual volume controls have another advantage besides half as many parts in the signal
path when compared to a volume and balance control. With dual volume controls you
can turn up one speaker by itself to a desired listening level and then turn up the other
channel to match. Meaning you can make the second channel higher or lower without
effecting the first channel. The advantage to doing this is that you can hear once you
get close to a match between the channels, the sound stage lock-in when you hit the
right spot. Since your room is non-symmetrical and your speakers are in reality not
matched to within 5% of each other, having the volume exactly perfectly centered
between the channels is never the perfect spot. You’ll hear it when you try it. And
you’ll notice a small window when you get close to matched where you can actually
adjust the sound stage to your room a bit better.
TUBES - output
The SE34I.3 uses a single EL34/6CA7 output tube per channel. These are the larger
ones on either side of the power transformer. They are run with lower voltages for
increased life and better tone. NOTE: The EL34 is a true pentode and has no internal
connections between the suppressor grid and cathode like the vast majority of audio
tubes (6550, KT88, KT77, 6L6, 6V6 to name a few). That means other than directly
heated triodes like 2A3’s, 300B’s for example, the EL34 is the only popular audio tube
that can be wired as a TRUE TRIODE. We find the EL34 wired this way in our circuits
to be more neutral than the darker sounding 300B’s and without the over-inflated price
for the tubes, a lot more practical.
O W N E R S M A N U A L
Decware High Fidelity Engineering Co., East Peoria IL, USA www.decware.com
