2. digital
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help me with a DAC decision please

i'm looking to upgrade my wadia DAC. My first choice would be to have it also act as my pre. My mind could be changed on that however. I am looking seriously at the April Music Eximus. Does any of the Metrum offerings fit in here? I  need some help finding comparative models from other makers. There is no place for me to see any close by. I have to wing it off of the web and your recommendations. I do not object to buying used.My budget would probably be under 3 grand new or used.
thanks for all the help
dpm2340
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
FROM ABSOLUTE SOUNDS
Every digital volume control will truncate bit-length (and musical data) if it is used at its very lowest settings. To reduce this effect the Wadia’s maximum output level can be adjusted from 4.0V down to 2.0V or even 1.0V, so that at normal listening levels the volume control can be set near its maximum level. 
Very important you done this, have you set this max level  dpm2340 on your Wadia 121 yet, so you use it's digital domain volume control near full level for lound listening and go direct into your power amp.
As if you don't you could be "bit stripping" or as Absolute Sounds calls it (truncate bit-length)

Cheers George
erik_squires
16,291 posts
 
Mostly true, but to nit-pick an answer, I've seen at least one maker use a 32 bit DAC's to 24 bit music, and use the remaining most significant 8 bits to do digital volume control, as well as DAC's that adjust the maximum output voltage digitally, while leaving the music data the same.

So I'd no longer say that all digital volume controls cause data truncation. Caveat Emptor however. 

Best,

Erik

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Well I'd counter that, by saying if Wadia went to the trouble of doing extra circuitry for an absolute max configurable output setting when it uses the ESS ES9018S then they have measured "bit stripping" if the volume is below around 75% of full output. And they have stated it as so.

Also Thorsten Losche from AMR has also has stated this even more so.
Quote: " Turn down the volume even the tiniest bit using the digital volume control and the sound quality to a massive hit."  
Cheers George 
nutty
2,934 posts
 
Oppo Sonica, $800.00 (2017 arrival) ESS9830PRO Sabre DAC.

N
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