I am attempting to do some A/B testing, comparing audio quality between my VTA SP14 and my newly rebuilt PAS3.
I am splitting the line out signal from a Marantz DAC1 using a simply RCA Y cable. One of the Y out legs connects to the line in on my PAS3 while the other Y out leg connects to the SP14 line in. The line out from each of the preamps is, in turn, run through an A/B switch to my VTA ST70. The idea is that by switching the A/B back and forth I can compare audio quality of the Marantz signal being sent through the SP14 and PAS3.
In theory this should be an easy process, however, when I switch to the SP14 side, I have virtually no volume. I can faintly hear the source with the volume cranked up to max. On the PAS3 side all is well with volume attenuating properly.
I have tested the SP14 side with the PAS3 turned on and off. No volume on the SP14 either way. However, if I unplug the Y leg to the PAS3 the SP14 volume operates perfectly.
It is my understanding that splitting a line level signal does not affect the signal strength or quality.
The question then becomes why do I get full volume attenuation on the PAS3 and next to no sound on the SP14?
Hopefully someone out there can lead me in the right direction toward solving this dilemma.
I am splitting the line out signal from a Marantz DAC1 using a simply RCA Y cable. One of the Y out legs connects to the line in on my PAS3 while the other Y out leg connects to the SP14 line in. The line out from each of the preamps is, in turn, run through an A/B switch to my VTA ST70. The idea is that by switching the A/B back and forth I can compare audio quality of the Marantz signal being sent through the SP14 and PAS3.
In theory this should be an easy process, however, when I switch to the SP14 side, I have virtually no volume. I can faintly hear the source with the volume cranked up to max. On the PAS3 side all is well with volume attenuating properly.
I have tested the SP14 side with the PAS3 turned on and off. No volume on the SP14 either way. However, if I unplug the Y leg to the PAS3 the SP14 volume operates perfectly.
It is my understanding that splitting a line level signal does not affect the signal strength or quality.
The question then becomes why do I get full volume attenuation on the PAS3 and next to no sound on the SP14?
Hopefully someone out there can lead me in the right direction toward solving this dilemma.