I usually have the volume set between 1 and 2 (out of 10) on the knob with my Utopia headphones
What source/DAC are you using? SE or balanced?
Take a vacation in the Caribbean, but go soon to beat the summer heat.
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Iām using the single-ended outputs of my Bricasti M1SE DAC.
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Mayās output voltage 2.9/5.8V is a bit hotter than the usual 2.5/5V for SE/Bal outs. Some other DACs like totaldacās unity run even hotter with 3.5V SE so from future proofing point of view, I begrudgingly got the stepped attenuator.
FWIW, at least in amps like Eddie Current Studio B, good quality attenuators are known to make sound quality improvements as well beyond just providing channel balance and finer control.
Also Donald said that itās quite painful to upgrade it later as the faceplate needs to be removed, XLR connectors unsoldered, and other components inside removed to access faceplate screws which will make it even more costly to retrofit.
What is so special about the attenuator used in the DNA amps that makes it a $2000 option? You can get 47 or 48 stepped attentuators (Goldpoint, Khozmo, etc) for <$250 that are considered some of the best by DIY builders. Are you not able to request a more affordable alternative when specāing a build?
Most potentiometers that are dialed in under the 1 mark are imbalanced in the gain of each channel. It sometimes takes me to turn the knob a bit more until the volume is balanced. I donāt know if that would be the case with the stepped attenuator as I thought it is better at matching the channels perfectly all the way down to zero. My nautilus was perfect and it had one too.
Regardless, Iād talk about your concerns with Donald as he will be the most experienced but if I needed an amp where Iām using it as low as 1 on the knob Iād be very unhappy even with my current potentiometer on my stratus. Iām sure someone here has a solution to that problem.
Iām planning on getting a stellaris and am debating with myself if I get the upgrade or not too. Iām most likely going to as Iām trying to make this the last headphone amp I ever buy and not getting it would just make me crave it down the road. Something I donāt want to do. $2k is a lot but Donald said itās the best upgrade to do if any with the stellaris and Iām sure itās worth it.
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I think itās the one thatās listed on the stellaris special but I could be wrong:
Custom 41-step TKD stepped attenuator
Iām sure it doesnāt cost $2k retail just as well as a Jupiter capacitor doesnāt cost $300 but for an upgrade in an amp you are going to pay that amount just like any other upgrades.
Not a bad idea asking if there are any other options.
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I think (correct me if Iām wrong here) the technical advantage of a stepped relay is perfect channel balance, whereas a pot always has some potential for imbalance. That said, the DNA relay is quite expensive and the stock potentiometer is a really good one. If youāre going for ENDGAME endgame, get it, because why not? But if youāre still trying to cling to some thread of rationality the stock configuration is REALLY good.
Actually, Iām pretty sure Iāve read that he sets the attenuator so you actually get more usable volume at low levels (i.e. logarithmic)
Yeah, like any viable business you have to take the cost of materials & production and multiply times a factor (i.e. x4) to have a sustainable business model.
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Hereās a comparison of the TKD potentiometer vs their 41-position stepped attenuator
Potentiometer
Vol 1 setting = -44dB
Vol 1.5 setting = -39dB
Vol 2 setting = -36dB
Stepped attenuator
Vol 1 setting = 4 steps up = -48.5dB
Vol 1.5 setting = 6 steps up = -42dB
Vol 2 setting = 8 steps up = -37.5dB
So the potentiometer is 4.5dB louder at vol 1 and 1.5dB louder at vol 2 on the dial.
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Thanks, Donald, thatās helpful. And while 4.5dB sounds like a big difference, it really only leaves a small number of steps that are useful with the 5.8V input of the Holo May and the Utopia, even when using the 1/4" jack and the switches down. In that mode, how many steps on the stepped attenuator can you, personally, comfortably listen to before it gets too laud?
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And thanks to everyone who piped in. Your collective wisdom is also helpful!
Iām leaning towards getting the stepped attenuator. For me, itās more about fine tuning the levels available than money. I often tweak the levels ever so slightly and with only 4 - 6 steps available at comfortable range, that might be an issue.
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First, I have not personally experienced the Holo May balanced into a Stellaris through Utopias. Perhaps someone else here has that combo and/or heard it and can comment more authoritatively. It is a very challenging combo with the 5.8V and high sensitivity of the Utopia. From my experience and I donāt listen loudly, Iād say with rock music youād probably be limited to the first 4 volume steps. If the unbalanced output with 2.9V are used instead, that would get another 2 steps of range.
Now while the potentiometer offers continuous adjustment, the channels arenāt closely matched until around -40~-45dB which may be too loud.
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With the Utopia and the 2.9V SE May output I generally float around the ā1ā setting on the pot. Usually 0.8 to 1.2 if I had to guess the range. The pot is very smooth so I have no trouble dialing in a comfortable listening level.
In terms of channel imbalance I can hear it at very low levels, but once I get about halfway to 1 from the 0 setting, I guess at 0.5, it becomes negligible and isnāt anything I can pick up at the listening range I use.
I didnt opt for the balanced in for my Stellaris so I cant comment on how it performs with the May.
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I am using my Stellaris with a Chord DAVE and Utopias for headphones, and I have never had volume stepping issues. As @chrisnyc75 and @Djnorth noted, Donaldās custom stepped attenuator has finer steps in the low range than a typical stepped attenuator, so itās not going to have the same problems as many other, courser stepped attenuators. You can get pretty fine adjustments, even in the 0 to 1 range. Over single-ended outputs, the May and DAVE have the same output voltage, so I think itās a fine comparison. If youāre a May owner set on using the balanced outs, then I can see that getting a bit tougher.
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Have you considered the option of having a passive attenuator on one of the inputs?
I know I often wanted more volume range on my Stratus, and went as far as using digital volume on the DAC to get it.
A couple non-invasive options are inline attenuators - I see a few brands offering different attenuation values.
Another option is using a lower gain input tube like the 6N6P and 6CG7. These will also change the overall sound though.
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Why, Donald. Why must you introduce more tube rolling options for me!? 
What are the Western equivalents that would work? A quick google suggests 6DJ8 / 6922 / ECC88 / E88CC / CV2492, but Iām not sure which (if any) of those are within the intended electrical profiles.
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6DJ8/6922/7308/ECC88/E88CC are not compatible in the Stratus and Stellaris.
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Good to know. Are there any western lower-gain tubes that are? For example, if I wanted lower gain than 6BQ7A or 6BK7B?
The 6CG7 is western, being a 9-pin version of the 6SN7. Besides providing lower gain, it will sound different from the 6N1P and 6BQ7A.
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