When you turn down or up the volume on devices with either a wheel or button, what actually happens that allows it to sound quieter or louder?

Question

When you turn down or up the volume on devices with either a wheel or button, what actually happens that allows it to sound quieter or louder?

In: Technology

Answer 1

the amplifier that drives the speaker(s) is always “cranked to the max”. the volume knob normally stays in front of it and divides the quiet input signal into two parts – a proportion of the signal is sent to the amp to amplify, and the rest is consumed by something passive e.g. a simple resistor, and is never amplified. so the volume knob usually attenuates the signal so not all of it is amplified; that allows you quieter volume.