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CDP volume, what's best, analogue or digital?

Hi

I'm thinking of selling my preamp and go for a Cd player with volume control to drive power amp directly. What are the main differences between analogue and digital volume control? Is one better than the other?
Thanks

Nuno
nuno_barbosa
tireguy
1,964 posts
 
Eldartford- I think he is refering to digital being the likes of Accuphase, Wadia, etc which everyone knows the volume control is done in the digital domain. As were units from the likes of Audio Aero, Resolution Audio, Cary use a volume control employed in the analog domain.

All of that being said I wouldn't even think about getting a player with digital volume control, having owned both there is no comparison- do you want to hear everything on the recording or not?? its really that simple. I am not saying that they won't ever get digital volume perfected but at this time it does not exist.
listener57
730 posts
 
My cost effective recommendation for CD only system is to use analog output from your CD player or DAC directly into analog EVS Ultimate Attenuators fitted directly onto the amplifier RCA input jacks eliminating any extra interconnect between a passive preamp and amp. Tweakaudio.com customizes these for either transistor or tube amp. As stepped attenuators there is not the very fine adjustment of a continuous analog volume control, but transparency and dynamics are so outstanding that the retail list price of $350 is a bargain.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Tireguy...I say again: how, in detail, is volume control mechanized "in the digital domain". The only way I can think of would be to multiply of each 16 bit audio data value by the selected gain (attenuation factor) prior to D/A conversion. That would waste the high order bits of the D/A converter, and degrade resolutiuon. It would be easier and better to digitally select a tap on a resistor ladder, which is equivalent to using a stepped attenuator instead of a pot. Digital replaces your hand turning the pot, but the signal processing remains analog.

For things like this it would be nice if Audiogon had a way to include a diagram in a post.
ed_sawyer
588 posts
 
Wadia, et al - basically they just drop the least significant bit(s) to attenuate the signal = hence degradation.

The concepts postulated by eldardfort are good ideas, but likely more work/effort to implement vs. a decent analog attenuator/vol. pot.

I've had good luck with the Sony XA7ES - their top of the line CD player from a few years ago. I had a remote-controlled analog volume control output, in addition to fixed-level outputs. very handy. The vol. control also works on the headphone output.

-Ed
nuno_barbosa OP
32 posts
 
Thank you all. I'm sure it was discussed before but my searches only come up with separate discussions and not pros and cons of both volume controls in one thread. Analogue seems to be the best way to go, but are the likes of Wadia doing so wrong with their digital volume?

nuno
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