Volume Control

[OverAnalyst]

I feel like such a newbie asking this question..........so my current setup: Rega RP1, Dynaco PAT-4 preamp, Dynaco ST80 amp, Energy EXL bookshelf speakers. If I swap out the PAT-4 and put in an Eros 2, what would be my best option for volume control? Do I buy/build a stepped attenuator and place it between TT and preamp? Use the volume control on PAT-4?

I tried search for any previous posts, but couldn't find anything. Help?

[kgoss]

Welcome to the forum!  The only dumb question is the one that isn’t asked.

All you need to do is connect the Eros2 to any unused input on your preamp (except phono if the preamp has a built in phono preamp). Then continue to use the preamp volume control.  The Eros is a phono preamp, not a line level preamp.

[OverAnalyst]

Ahhh yes! Thanks kgoss, I'm slowly putting the pieces together in my head. The PAT-4 does have a phono-stage so this will actually be nice to compare with minimal reconfiguring. So my next question is how much "color" (or discolor) will the PAT-4, or any preamp for this matter, add to the sound versus a bypass? I suppose I can incorporate a bypass line in the PAT-4 if that's even possible. Even if so, I wouldn't know how to do it.

[Paul Birkeland]

I would not recommend modifying the PAT-4 to attempt to bypass the preamp section.  It's very likely that the volume/balance controls are high impedance parts that won't work well in this configuration. 

-PB