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DAC/Pre's Digital attenuation vs. analog

Hello

I'm trying to decide whether to buy a W4S DAC2 and use the digital preamp, or to get the DAC1 with a separate component preamp (such as a Bryston BP25). I don't care all that much about the cost; just performance.

What are the advantages/disadvantages of going either way?

(I'm also considering a Benchmark HDR or USB).
robertsong
edorr
714 posts
 
Steve, that sounds like a reasonable approach. One 3 feet trip to the audio rack to set volume on the DAC for each listening session is doable. I will wait for the offramp 5 I ordered to arrive first, but my next project may well be a shootout of your DAC against the Perfectwave MKII.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
Mr tennis - The "analog" volume control on the DAC that I am referring to is not analog at all. It does not suffer from the gain issues. This allows the digital volume to be at or close to max, which is optimum.

Volume control using analog "gain" adjustment is one of my least favorite methods. Best to avoid. My own modded ML preamp is a dust-gathering boat anchor now.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
"my next project may well be a shootout of your DAC against the Perfectwave MKII."

No problem, we can do that. Looking forward to it. It will probably be after Newport Beach show June 1 however.

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
a better test would be a comparison between the original zanden dac steve's latest dac.

i consider the first zanden dac as my favorite dac.
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
MRtennis - No need to do this. My older discontinued DAC the Spoiler, which is not as good and used Adaptive USB reclocked, was compared to the Zanden5000 here:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?icomp&1211443920&read&keyw&zzspoiler

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?icomp&1228141324&read&keyw&zzspoiler

Steve N.
Empirical Audio
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