mofojo OP Which MSB do you have George? Do you run amp direct with it?
The MSB Discrete R2R Ladder Dac that I do run direct, because it’s remote control digital domain volume is a few clicks off full up so (no bit stripping) at the level I listen to.
If I have far more efficient speakers or amps with higher sensitivity in the system, so the volume of the MSB then is far lower, and then probably ( bit stripping), then I would use my passive in between dac and amp, set it’s level, so then the MSB is back up near full again and use it’s remote volume control again.
Cheers George