Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > Thanks - I just ordered some Rothwell balanced attenuators. If you're using the DAC2's XLR outputs -- and if the DAC2 works like the DAC3 that I'm familiar with -- you can just open the case and move a couple jumpers to attenuate those outputs by either -10dB or -20dB. fastfwd's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=62073 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > Thanks - I just ordered some Rothwell balanced attenuators. Pls report about your experience. Living Room: piCorePlayer 5.0.0 on rPi 3B+ & Allo DigiOne & 1TB USB (LMS 8.0.0 & Squeezelite) & Keces DC-116, Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock, Rega DAC R, Rotel RB-1070, Rotel RC-1070 or Fezz Titania Signature, Klipsch Forte III Bedroom: Boom / Workspace: Boom / Kitchen: Radio schiff1108's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=64153 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
schiff1108 wrote: > I was always hearing that it is the best to do attenuation at the last > point in the chain. Hence, I have tested some while ago In-Line > Attenuators between the preamp and the power amp. Have tested different > set-ups and I am very satisfied and continue to use them. > Actually, I listen to music at 12 o'clock with all the known benefits. > Here to read: > http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html > My attenuators were built by a friend. Thanks - I just ordered some Rothwell balanced attenuators. ...pablo Server: Virtual Machine (on VMware Workstation) running Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 7.9.1 System: SB Touch --optical->- Benchmark DAC2HGC --AnalysisPlus Oval Copper XLR->- NAD M22 Power Amp --AnalysisPlus Black Mesh Oval->- KEF Reference 1 Other Rooms: 2x SB Boom; 1x SB Radio; 1x SB Classic-> NAD D7050 -> Totem DreamCatcher + Velodyne Minivee Sub Computer audio: workstation --USB->- audioengine D1 -> Grado RS1/Shure 1540 pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
I was always hearing that it is the best to do attenuation at the last point in the chain. Hence, I have tested some while ago In-Line Attenuators between the preamp and the power amp. Have tested different set-ups and I am very satisfied and continue to use them. Actually, I listen to music at 12 o'clock with all the known benefits. Here to read: http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html My attenuators were built by a friend. Living Room: piCorePlayer 5.0.0 on rPi 3B+ & Allo DigiOne & 1TB USB (LMS 8.0.0 & Squeezelite) & Keces DC-116, Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock, Rega DAC R, Rotel RB-1070, Rotel RC-1070 or Fezz Titania Signature, Klipsch Forte III Bedroom: Boom / Workspace: Boom / Kitchen: Radio schiff1108's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=64153 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
I kind of agree in practise, but I would like to unpack what I see as the real problem. There is more benefit than downside with digital VC, if correctly implemented (low distortion and *dithered*). It's possible with SoX. There's another requirement, that the attenuation is *moderate*. I'll discuss this toward the end! With several popular DACs, the ASRC and upsampling stages NEED digital headroom to perform correctly with highly dynamically compressed music i.e. most modern music! https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98661-Some-observations-about-the-Benchmark-DAC1=747509=1#post747509. That means they need digital volume control (unless they have digital headroom built in specially like the BM DAC2/3). With these DACs, you simply won't be able to enjoy many modern recordings to the same level without doing this. Here's a visualisation of the difference on a modern recording (inter-sample overs clipped vs not-clipped): https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/some-observations-about-the-benchmark-dac1.137152/#post-1990168. 6dB of attenuation is enough. People with smart phones, sound bars, mini/micro-systems etc. are actually better off in this way, because digital VC is built into these devices. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a big part of many audiophiles' complaints of modern recordings. Obviously there's damage done by dynamic compression that can't be fixed, but why add extra damage unnecessarily? Many DACs these days are hot via XLR - 4VRMS, some much higher - and *if the DAC is being used preamp-less*, this leads to excessive digital attenuation. Which is bad. Or necessitating the use of XLR attenuators, which I would argue is also bad. But Weiss have the ideal approach with a mixture of reference voltage adjustment in the analogue domain for coarse adjustment - so the XLR output level can be adjusted to 2VRMS (typical RCA output level) or even 1VRMS - followed by dithered digital volume control. All this without need for XLR attenuators. Also dCS do well in this regard. So I'd say digital volume control brings many more benefits than downsides as long as the attenuation is moderate - and the problem is the design of many DACs with too high an output level to be used optimally when preamp-less. The reason the output levels are creeping up is that it makes it easier to achieve a better SNR/THD+N measurement, which people slavishly follow e.g. on ASR. It's a pity manufacturers are chasing one number to the substantial detriment of certain use cases e.g. using the DAC preamp-less. Check it, add to it! http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/ SB Touch darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
There's nothing wrong with digital VC per se, if correctly implemented (low distortion and dithered). It's possible to meet both requirements with SoX. There's a third requirement, that the attenuation is moderate. I'll discuss this toward the end! With several popular DACs, the ASRC and upsampling stages NEED digital headroom with highly dynamically compressed music i.e. most modern music! https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?98661-Some-observations-about-the-Benchmark-DAC1=747509=1#post747509 With these DACs, you simply won't be able to enjoy modern recordings to the same level without doing this. Here's a visualisation of the difference on a modern recording: https://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/threads/some-observations-about-the-benchmark-dac1.137152/#post-1990168 People with smart phones, sound bars, mini/micro-systems etc. are actually better off in this way, because digital VC is built into these devices. I wouldn't be surprised if this was a big part of many audiophiles' complaints of modern recordings. Obviously there's damage done by dynamic compression that can't be fixed, but why add extra damage unnecessarily? Many DACs these days are hot via XLR - 4VRMS, some higher - and this leads to excessive digital attenuation. Which is bad. Or necessitating the use of XLR attenuators, which I would argue is also bad. But Weiss have the ideal approach with a mixture of reference voltage adjustment in the analogue domain for coarse adjustment - so the XLR output level can be adjusted to 2VRMS (typical RCA output level) or even 1VRMS - followed by dithered digital volume control. All this without need for XLR attenuators. Also dCS do well in this regard. So I'd say digital volume control brings many more benefits than downsides as long as the attenuation is moderate - and the problem is the design of many DACs with too high an output level. The reason the output levels are creeping up is that it makes it easier to achieve a better SNR/THD+N measurement, which people slavishly follow e.g. on ASR. It's a pity manufacturers are chasing one number to the substantial detriment of certain use cases e.g. using the DAC preamp-less. Check it, add to it! http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/ SB Touch darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
Many up-samplers (including those in many DACs) lack DSP headroom. With highly dynamically compressed input (read most mainstream music since 90s) the up-sampling creates new samples that should be over 0dB but aren't. I think this is one area where people with soundbars, smart phones etc. with digital volume control have it better than many audiophiles. Surely, such recordings are mangled in ways that can't be undone. Without digital attenuation (volume), they're often mangled in a further unnecessary way. Proper digital volume control uses dither. This adds noise but no signal-correlated distortion. I use SoX for up-sampling. I need to shift down by 1 bit before doing up-sampling, this provides headroom but keeps it bit-perfect prior to up-sampling. Then I up-sample, apply the rest of the volume control and dither. Digital headroom (either in the DAC like in the BM DAC2/3, or before it) is absolutely essential for modern recordings IMO. Check it, add to it! http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/ SB Touch darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > I have a rather high powered amp. If I turn the Benchmark DAC2 to 100% > volume the SB Touch can't play at more than 55. I tend to keep the DAC2 > at 50% and that allows me to crank the Touch volume up to 80 (that's > entertainingly loud but not annoyingly loud), but typically more like > 72. Do those setting impact sound quality, in your opinion? schiff1108 wrote: > There is even a set-up in LMS (Volume control) to keep the volume always > on 100%. FWIW IMO You should never use digital volume control unless as a last resort - as @schliff1108 says enable the fixed 100% volume setting in LMS for the Touch (to disable it's digital attenuation) and use your DAC's volume control if necessary (assume this is digital anyway - but always best to do attenuation at the last point in the chain not the first to minimise flow on artefacts from it). To the best of my knowledge digital volume control effectively drops 'bits' of _resolution_ for each step of db attenuation - so hence why its not ideal and can be noticeable at extremes (i.e low or high volume levels well away from the original recording's playback level). *Hi-Fi 1*: QNAP HS-453DX NAS+QLMS/Allo USBridge Signature+Shanti LPS/Cirrus ESS Sabre 32-bit Reference DAC (Oppo 105D)/Yamaha Aventage CX-A5000/Focal SM9s. *Hi-Fi 2*: Sqbox Touch+Shanti LPS/Focal XS Books. *Hi-Fi 3*: PC+Squeezelite-X+Material Skin/Focal XS Books. *Hi-Fi Misc*: iPeng (iPad/iPhones)/Plantronics BB Pro 2 LE Headphones. *Accessories*: Tchernov -Classic- & Van den Hul ICs; Thor PS10 Power Station; Blue Jeans & Ruleconnect Cables (Power, HDMI, USB & Coaxial); Aurios & Vibrapods. Mycenius's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=56466 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > I am just using digital inputs on the DAC2HGC, one comes from the TV, > the other from the SB Touch. The Becnhmark indeed acts as both a DAC and > a preamp, and feeds into the NAD M22 power amp. The DAC2 also has > internal an internal attenuator, which I set to -20db. That allows me to > keep the Benchmark volume set around the 11am mark. > > I keep the Benchmark around that 11am volume mark for the following > reasons: > > * It is recommended by Benchmark for optimal sound quality. > * Higher than that the (fixed) Toslink output from the TV is LOUD. given > my config I like to match things a bit. > * It allows me to control the volume for music -which really is my > utmost priority- with the Touch, from the 30s (nice mellow alarm volume > in the morning) up to typically 80-something for immersed listening > (good volume, not too loud), depending on the sound engineer's loudness > choice. > > Thanks gents! I should note the following about the Benchmark DAC2 - the digital system never passes any analog volume control: ".. The DAC2 combines active analog gain control, passive low-impedance attenuators, a 32-bit digital gain control, and a servo-driven volume control. All inputs are controlled by the rotary volume control. This volume control moves in response to commands from the remote control. Analog inputs are never converted to digital, and digital inputs never pass through an analog potentiometer. Digital inputs are precisely controlled in the 32-bit DSP system. The DSP system preserves precise L/R balance, and precise stereo imaging, while avoiding any source of noise and distortion. .." ...pablo Server: Virtual Machine (on VMware Workstation) running Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 7.9.1 System: SB Touch --optical->- Benchmark DAC2HGC --AnalysisPlus Oval Copper XLR->- NAD M22 Power Amp --AnalysisPlus Black Mesh Oval->- KEF Reference 1 Other Rooms: 2x SB Boom; 1x SB Radio; 1x SB Classic-> NAD D7050 -> Totem DreamCatcher + Velodyne Minivee Sub Computer audio: workstation --USB->- audioengine D1 -> Grado RS1/Shure 1540 pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
Reality Check Time. Agonising over where it's best to apply volume control is basically a waste of time and effort. An audio playback system has a fixed amount of gain. It also has a fixed amount of noise. For any given desired listening level, you need to reduce the signal level such that the fixed amount of gain gets you the playback volume you want. While lowering the input level reduces the playback volume of the wanted signal, it doesn't reduce the noise, which remains fixed. It really doesn't matter whether you reduce the input signal level in the digital or analogue domain. The result to all intents and purposes is exactly the same - as you turn down the volume, the S/N ratio gets worse. If you reduce the volume digitally, the least significant bits of resolution (ie. lowest level of detail) disappear into the digital quantisation noise. If you reduce it in the analogue domain, you also lose the lowest level of detail, which disappears into the analogue noise floor. The only difference is that by attenuating digitally, the intrinsic noise of the DAC becomes more significant, which doesn't happen if you keep the digital signal at 100% and instead increase the analogue attenuation. BUT: the linearity and noise floor of any modern competent DAC is so low it's really just academic. The noise in the rest of the system will swamp it. You'll never actually hear the difference under normal listening conditions. So in conclusion: unless you've got an insane amount of gain in the system, you won't hear a difference between digital and analogue volume control. Transporter -> ATC SCM100A cliveb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=348 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
I am just using digital inputs on the DAC2HGC, one comes from the TV, the other from the SB Touch. The Becnhmark indeed acts as both a DAC and a preamp, and feeds into the NAD M22 power amp. The DAC2 also has internal an internal attenuator, which I set to -20db. That allows me to keep the Benchmark volume set around the 11am mark. I keep the Benchmark around that 11am volume mark for the following reasons: * It is recommended by Benchmark for optimal sound quality. * Higher than that the (fixed) Toslink output from the TV is LOUD. given my config I like to match things a bit. * It allows me to control the volume for music -which really is my utmost priority- with the Touch, from the 30s (nice mellow alarm volume in the morning) up to typically 80-something for immersed listening (good volume, not too loud), depending on the sound engineer's loudness choice. Thanks gents! ...pablo Server: Virtual Machine (on VMware Workstation) running Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 7.9.1 System: SB Touch --optical->- Benchmark DAC2HGC --AnalysisPlus Oval Copper XLR->- NAD M22 Power Amp --AnalysisPlus Black Mesh Oval->- KEF Reference 1 Other Rooms: 2x SB Boom; 1x SB Radio; 1x SB Classic-> NAD D7050 -> Totem DreamCatcher + Velodyne Minivee Sub Computer audio: workstation --USB->- audioengine D1 -> Grado RS1/Shure 1540 pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
Or have missed some finer point on how the benchmark works ? While at it why not look at the whole gain structure. DAC2 is driving active speakers? A power amp ? If the sensitivity is adjustable at that end I would make it so the 100% on DAC2 would represent maximum enjoyable loudness with the quintets recordings you listen to . Main hifi: Rasbery PI digi+ MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Loggia: Raspi hifiberry dac + Adams Bathroom : Radio (with battery) iPad with iPengHD & SqueezePad (spares Touch, SB3, reciever ,controller ) server Intel NUC Esxi VM Linux mint 18 LMS 7.9.2 http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
If we are talking two digital volume controls Ill bet the benchmark is the better implementation and if it has headroom just use one volume control. I have an older Meridian pre/pro wo suspect of not having any headroom for intersample overs , so I upsample and attenuate -3.5 dB in Squeezelite before sending it to the Meridian and then uses its digital volume control. In LMS the volume for this player is set to fixed. Main hifi: Rasbery PI digi+ MeridianG68J MeridianHD621 MeridianG98DH 2 x MeridianDSP5200 MeridianDSP5200HC 2 xMeridianDSP3100 +Rel Stadium 3 sub. Bedroom/Office: Boom Loggia: Raspi hifiberry dac + Adams Bathroom : Radio (with battery) iPad with iPengHD & SqueezePad (spares Touch, SB3, reciever ,controller ) server Intel NUC Esxi VM Linux mint 18 LMS 7.9.2 http://people.xiph.org/~xiphmont/demo/neil-young.html Mnyb's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=4143 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
In previous discussions I was told that with the Touch anything above 40 with 16 bit source has no rounding errors. But with 24 bit source any volume reduction will have rounding errors. The DAC2 has HGC i.e. volume is analogue for analogue inputs but digitial for digital. The DAC2 also has digital head room so I think there's no benefit to attenuating beforehand. So I'd just run the Touch at 100% and use the DAC2 volume control, that way I don't need to worry about 16 bit vs 24 bit source files. Check it, add to it! http://www.dr.loudness-war.info/ SB Touch darrenyeats's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10799 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
Lower the power amp sensitivity. Voltage dvider maybe? Zombie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=25009 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
Thanks for the informative and helpful responses - as always. ...pablo Server: Virtual Machine (on VMware Workstation) running Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 7.9.1 System: SB Touch --optical->- Benchmark DAC2HGC --AnalysisPlus Oval Copper XLR->- NAD M22 Power Amp --AnalysisPlus Black Mesh Oval->- KEF Reference 1 Other Rooms: 2x SB Boom; 1x SB Radio; 1x SB Classic-> NAD D7050 -> Totem DreamCatcher + Velodyne Minivee Sub Computer audio: workstation --USB->- audioengine D1 -> Grado RS1/Shure 1540 pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
garym wrote: > and the takeaway from that thread is that having your touch digital > volume at around 60 or higher means that your not losing anything > (because the touch can do digital volume control using 24 bits > essentially). I have my amp/preamp volume set such that I'm usually at > 70 or above on the Touch. I think this is an interesting question. I had read somewhere in these forums that on the SB Touch, that every 1% back off from 100% is equivalent to 0.5 dB. So, I currently set my SB Touch to 88%, or a 6 dB back off. I think this is equivalent to a 1 bit shift in the 24 bit samples coming out of the Touch, so there should be no loss. I have found that for some of the music I listen to, that running the Touch at full output results in distortion that I can sometimes discern. I suspect it is the result of pushing my DAC to full output. I think a slightly reduced level in the stream feeding my DAC takes care of this. I rely on the analog volume control in my preamp for controlling volume in my system. Leaving the DAC output high allows me to use a lower gain in my preamp, and I believe that results in a lower noise floor. So in my system, it is a trade off between THD and noise. I prefer a little bit of noise which I don't notice anyway, to distortion. Long story ... short story is that my SB Touch is set to 88%. *Living Room:* SB Touch + DIY PSU > CI Audio VDA.2 DAC + VAC.1 PSU > VRX.1 cables > Emotiva XSP-1 Gen 2 preamp + XPA-DR2 amp > Blue Jeans cables > B 804 speakers *Laptop:* System76 Galago + Ubuntu 16.04 + Squeezelite/gmrender + Material Skin > Emotiva Little Ego DAC > Senn HD 650 headphones *Phone:* Pixel 3a Phone + BubbleUPnP + Kiwi/Material > Bluetooth > Bose SoundLink Revolve *Server:* Puget Systems Serenity + Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 8.0 *Music:* Personal FLAC, Radio Paradise FLAC, Qobuz, Spotify Ron F.'s Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=5616 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
MichaelJ wrote: > Heres a link to an old discussion on that topic > https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?89228-Touch-Volume-Control-Quality=645562=1#post645562 and the takeaway from that thread is that having your touch digital volume at around 60 or higher means that your not losing anything (because the touch can do digital volume control using 24 bits essentially). I have my amp/preamp volume set such that I'm usually at 70 or above on the Touch. *Home:* VBA 4TB (2.5)>LMS 7.9.2>Transporter, Touch, Boom, Radio (all ethernet) *Cottage:* VBA 3TB (2.4)>LMS 7.9.1>Touch>Benchmark DAC I, Boom, Radio w/Battery (ethernet, Radio WIFI) *Office:* Win10(64)>LMS 7.9.2>Squeezelite *The Wild (no internet): *PiCorePlayer 4.0 on rPi 3B+, hifiberry Dac+Pro, 4TB USB (LMS & Squeezelite) *Controllers:* iPhone6 & iPadAir2 (iPeng), CONTROLLER, or SqueezePlay 7.8 on Win10(64) laptop *Files:* ripping: dbpa > FLAC; post-rip: mp3tag, PerfectTunes; Streaming: Spotify garym's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=17325 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > I have a rather high powered amp. If I turn the Benchmark DAC2 to 100% > volume the SB Touch can't play at more than 55. I tend to keep the DAC2 > at 50% and that allows me to crank the Touch volume up to 80 (that's > entertainingly loud but not annoyingly loud), but typically more like > 72. > > Do those setting impact sound quality, in your opinion? Heres a link to an old discussion on that topic https://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?89228-Touch-Volume-Control-Quality=645562=1#post645562 MichaelJ's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=43215 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
Re: [SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
pablolie wrote: > I have a rather high powered amp. If I turn the Benchmark DAC2 to 100% > volume the SB Touch can't play at more than 55. I tend to keep the DAC2 > at 50% and that allows me to crank the Touch volume up to 80 (that's > entertainingly loud but not annoyingly loud), but typically more like > 72. > > Do those setting impact sound quality, in your opinion? Digital Output volume from SB Touch should be ideally not reduced. There is even a set-up in LMS (Volume control) to keep the volume always on 100%. Up to 90% (incl replay gain) might be acceptable. Why don't you go to lower volume level with the DAC as this is the reducing the analog output w/o any qualitiy impact? Like preamp. Living Room: piCorePlayer 5.0.0 on rPi 3B+ & Allo DigiOne & 1TB USB (LMS 8.0.0 & Squeezelite) & Keces DC-116, Mutec MC-3+ Smart Clock, Rega DAC R, Rotel RB/RC-1070, Klipsch Forte III - SB Touch to control piCorePlayer Bedroom: Boom / Workspace: Boom / Kitchen: Radio schiff1108's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=64153 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
[SlimDevices: Audiophiles] Optimal Volume Level with SB Touch
I have a rather high powered amp. If I turn the Benchmark DAC2 to 100% volume the SB Touch can't play at more than 55. I tend to keep the DAC2 at 50% and that allows me to crank the Touch volume up to 80 (that's entertainingly loud but not annoyingly loud), but typically more like 72. Do those setting impact sound quality, in your opinion? ...pablo Server: Virtual Machine (on VMware Workstation) running Ubuntu 18.04 + LMS 7.9.1 System: SB Touch --optical->- Benchmark DAC2HGC --AnalysisPlus Oval Copper XLR->- NAD M22 Power Amp --AnalysisPlus Black Mesh Oval->- KEF Reference 1 Other Rooms: 2x SB Boom; 1x SB Radio; 1x SB Classic-> NAD D7050 -> Totem DreamCatcher + Velodyne Minivee Sub Computer audio: workstation --USB->- audioengine D1 -> Grado RS1/Shure 1540 pablolie's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=3816 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=111714 ___ audiophiles mailing list audiophiles@lists.slimdevices.com http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/audiophiles
