Control volume with DAC or Preamp?

ozzy
I used to own the PS Audio Direct Stream Dac. Running direct to my amps it was a bit anemic.

That’s totally understandable when you see this frequency response graph, the roll off in the bass with a 100k load starts at 100hz and gets worse as it goes down to 20hz, which indicates to me it’s capacitor coupled.

And that capacitor "could" be too small (impedance mismatch) when it sees the input of what ever amp/s you have or even 10kohm Passive preamp load as well, it could be much worse and roll off the bass even more than with 100k, and resulting in your "anemic " sound

https://www.stereophile.com/images/914PSDSfig04.jpg

Cheers George

Just for accuracy... The DS Dac is transformer coupled. You can see it here:

https://images.app.goo.gl/oDW85e3k2MKCXJP98

Ralph is product (his active preamp) protection mode, omitting the reason behind a "why" the "rare" times a passive "may not" be the least coloured, least distorted, and best dynamically

The reason passive controls tend to sound more colored is they are unable to buffer the control, they are unable to control the otherwise audible artifacts of the interconnect cables. They sound best (more bass, more 'realness' across the audio band) when the control is set to maximum but of course this isn't practical. 

@atmasphere, I’m not sure that one could accurately describe the OP’s direct from DAC to amp application as “passive”?

Only if the DAC has an a proper analog line pre stage. Volume control via DAC chip is to be avoided period. In generally a high quality separate pre will always be better.