The "Ultimate Attenuator"

jaymenon

ICBM said:

No, not really - a master volume reduces just the signal level going into the power amp. Power scaling actually reduces the power of the power amp.

I don't know if this helps, but think of a car analogy… if you have a big car with a big engine but don't want to go as fast as it's capable of.

A master volume is like the throttle - back off and you get less power from the same engine, but there will come a point where it gets difficult to get good control and just doesn't work very well. (Assuming you don't change gear!)

Power scaling is like reducing the size of the engine in the same car, so you get the same range of throttle control but less power and acceleration, and you can drive it pretty much the same way but you will go less fast.

An attenuator is like driving with the brakes on . [© Del Amitri]

I really liked that @ICBM - beautifully written.