DAC volume controls

Audio Aero DAC w/volume control direct into Music Reference RM9 MKII amp.   Sounds great... even better than when I had an Aesthetix Calypso Signature in the mix.  No regrets selling the preamp, simplifying my system and improving my sound quality.

@yyzsantabarbara   DAC3 HGC have two gain controls (hence "Hybrid Gain Control")  - a digital encoder for digital signals and analog pot for analog inputs, mounted on the same shaft.  AFAIK HPA4 has encoder as well, but it controls bunch of relays providing 256 step control, all in analog domain.  That's the best of both worlds - unlimited life span encoder controlling analog gain.  What surprised me the most about AHB2 is bass performance in comparison to my previous class D (Icepower) amp.  It goes lower and stronger.  Specifications don't reflect it since both had adequate extension on paper (class D - 5Hz, AHB2 = 0.1Hz).  Let me know if you hear the same.  Getting back to issue on hand - Benchmark, in one of the papers claims that with typical system you cannot hear more than 16-bit anyway.  That would require overall system S/N to be better than 96dB.  Music is compressed most of the time allowing us to hear silent parts better, but we also have around 30dB of ambient noise.  I believe that digital volume control for signal, that is in digital domain is the best and most accurate way to go.  Upsampling and filtering provides extra resolution (averaging), but even without it I wouldn't be able to hear lowest bits when volume is dialed down.  Engineering behind Benchmark products is always first class, so if they decided to use digital volume control it means it can be done right. 

i am curious whether the RME ADI-2 (which is a very good sounding unit with many many features such as DSP, filters, tone controls and volume controls) will reduce resolution if used as a linestage controlling volumes into a power amp....