Just remember that those and most volume controls are merely attenuaters.. Only youd ears can determine which of yours sounds better
Trying to understand optimal method of volume control with separates
I recently got a vtv eval-1 stereo amp to go with a topping d90/a90 dac/amp stack which is intended originally for headphones but doubles as a dac/preamp going out to the eval-1. The d90 dac has volume control with a remote which is great for relaxing on the couch since the a90 amp/preamp only has a knob you can turn by hand but no remote. I could be imagining things or recovering from an un-diagnosed ear infection but I could almost swear it sounds better having the dac at 100% volume or alternately having the volume knob on the preamp turned up higher with the dac lower. Is there some optimal combo of preamp voltage and dac volume that fills in the music better somehow?
I assumed that one multiplies the other and the only thing that matters is the total that comes out into the speaker amp but for some reason it sounds more full/even the other way. The only problem is when I have the dac at 100% there's almost no room to adjust the volume knob without getting way too loud. Having the preamp volume knob permanently up higher and setting the dac lower also seems to do the trick but I'm curious if I'm just insane or if there's something to it.
I assumed that one multiplies the other and the only thing that matters is the total that comes out into the speaker amp but for some reason it sounds more full/even the other way. The only problem is when I have the dac at 100% there's almost no room to adjust the volume knob without getting way too loud. Having the preamp volume knob permanently up higher and setting the dac lower also seems to do the trick but I'm curious if I'm just insane or if there's something to it.
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Be careful. try to stay below 12oclock If possible. my one preamp has a DB setting of +8, so if I use this, I stay off the volume a bit, if I hear any Jumble of music, I don’t push it, speakers only rated at I think 250W peak. So I keep the volume and my ears sober. Some music is played louder, acoustic, etc. stay attentive to the volume! |
Up until yesterday I was keeping the preamp volume at 12 oclock on medium gain and controlling volume with the dac. Sometimes it seemed like it was out of tune or out of balance and not that great sounding at higher volume. If I put it around 2 o clock medium gain but turn down the dac it sounds more normal somehow. Weird. |
This if it’s digital domain vc, should be used at or above 75% it’s full output, as not to run the risk of bit striping. So the ideal would be to set your preamp where you use the dac’s vc at or above 75% of full, this will give the highest resolution from the dac, below this can bit strip and reduce resolution. What Wadia did with their flagship dacs was to have a owner gain settable analog output stage so you can use the digital domain vc near full for the best sound going direct into the poweramp/s, and forget about preamps. https://ibb.co/sbW8QjC Cheers George |
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@MC With rocker type remember, "These go to eleven." https://youtu.be/4xgx4k83zzc?t=39 |
I’m thinking about picking up a freya+ so I can finally do it right and have a remote. Hopefully the gain won’t be out of control but I can return it if it doesn’t work out.Get a $49 Schiit Sys passive as well, as I said the higher the dacs volume is above 75% of full the less chance you are "bit stripping" and lowering the resolution. As you can send either back, and my bets on the Freya+ going back and keeping the Sys for the best sound. Cheers George |
brandini OP
Actually I forgot you can also use the the Freya+ in passive mode so forget what I said about getting the Sys. Cheers George |