How to set up volume control on a DAC without a preamp

I'm going thru the exact same thing.  My amp does have its own manual volume control so I can use the DAC but after getting used to remote volume control on my previous DAC I'm also looking for a different solution.

I tried a Schitt SAGA and it didn't work for me.  It turned down the volume OK but sucked all the life out of the music.  I can also choose to use Foobar2000 with it's software volume control which my not sound quite as good as AlbumPLayer but it is much better than the SAGA.

I'm not a ROON user but depending on the USB driver  it may not work.

My DAC manufacture recommended the Khozmo passive that can be purchased for under a grand (way under depending on the resister type)

What is the ROON Endpoint device?

I am creating my system and trying to decide on a DAC.  I don't have a preamp at this time and the preamps I am looking at are quite expensive.  Several DAC's that i'm looking at doesn't have volume control either.

Depending on your budget..... i believe some of these Topping dacs like E70 velvet, D70, D90, etc or the SMSLs, etc should have some halfway decent volume control. You ’may’ not need a separate preamp, depending on how picky you are.

If your budget is a bit higher, you could go with some higher quality dac/preamp combo unit like the Rotel RC-1590 mkii.

Of course, sky’s the limit on how much you could spend with varying results.

For a DAC with volume control, don’t overlook the Benchmark DAC3B combined with their LA4, which together will set you back less than some of the DACs mentioned here. The combination is exceptionally transparent, if that’s what you are looking for.

An alternative would be their DAC3 HGC, whose volume control can be replaced by an LA4 later when you are ready to buy more.

@danager I tried a Schitt SAGA and it didn’t work for me. It turned down the volume OK but sucked all the life out of the music. I can also choose to use Foobar2000 with it’s software volume control which my not sound quite as good as AlbumPLayer but it is much better than the SAGA.

Did you have Saga S? You might try Saga + (hybrid) or the most recent Saga 2 just released 2-3 weeks ago. Pretty good. Class A, fully discrete, no neg. feedback, LPS and a accurate relay-resistor volume control. It actually cures my left-right channel imbalance issue. It sounds noticeably better than Foobar2000 and much better than its sibling passive pre Syn. I paired it with the Schiit Modius and the sound is dynamic, lifelike, wider SS and good separation on my system but YMMV. 

It does not render 3D soundstage but the Dac might be the limiting factor.  The Chord Qutest I just order is on the way and may give surprises.

The passive stage in the new Saga 2 sounds pure and could get rid of sibilance when compared with low-gain. I am curious how it stacks up with Khozmo.

Never try AlbumPlayer before but it is closed down anyway.