Stepped Attenuator Page
This page deals with figuring out what value resistors are needed to build a stepped attenuator. If you have ever tried using a hand calculator or even programming a spreadsheet to figure out a hundred resistor values, constantly in fear of having made an error that you know will compound throughout you calculations, then Audio Gadgets will prove a godsend. Series, shunt, ladder, and balance control are covered, from one step to hundred, in as little a dB increment or as large an increment as you please. Absolute resistor values or only the nearest 1% resistor values can be selected.
   
What is and why have a stepped attenuator?
The stepped attenuator is an expensive and elaborate attempt to overcome the liabilities of the conventional potentiometer volume control. Liabilities? Even the best potentiometers compromise the quality of the signal that flows through them. The thin film of carbon and the metal scraper that make up the average potentiometer seem to damage the signal almost as much as they attenuate it (an exaggeration, no doubt--but then, just how much of your precious audio signal are you willing to corrupt?). Furthermore, finding a stereo potentiometer that follows a logarithmic taper and can track from one channel to the other is tough. With the stepped attenuator, on the other hand, high quality fixed resistors replace the carbon track and, likewise, high quality switch contacts replace the metal scraper. Because 1% resistors are readily available, there is no problem in following the logarithmic taper accurately and consistently.

1% Resistor Values
Audio Gadgets can display the calculated resistor values in either absolute values or it can pick the closest values from the list of 1% resistor values. The choice is yours. (In general, audiophiles become far too audio retentive when it comes to part tolerances; matching between channels is usually more important than absolute value matching.)