------------------------------------------------------------------------ A poll associated with this post was created, to vote and see the results, please visit http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=77824 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Question: Should volume control only affect the analog outputs? - Yes, I don't/wouldn't use the digital outputs anyway - Yes, I want to use the digital outputs and want them locked at 100% - Yes (some other reason) - No, I want variable output for the digital outputs - No (some other reason) ------------------------------------------------------------------------
My preamp, a Bottlehead Foreplay, is currently on the bench as I do an upgrade on it. In the meanwhile, I am feeding my Touch into my DacMagic DAC as usual, but have a Y connector feeding both my subwoofer and my Dynaco tube amp. Hence, the only volume control I have is through the Touch. I am completely floored by how much better my system sounds now that I've removed the preamp (which is no slouch by the way). Any issues with bit depth reduction with the volume control are vastly overwhelmed by the improvement in sound by removing the preamp. It makes sense, really. The DacMagic oversamples well, reducing (I think) issues with bit depth reduction. By removing all that signal path with its gain stages, you simply are closer to the original music. I have a situation where typical listening conditions put me between 60 and 100 on the volume control. I may never go back to the preamp except when I want to play LPs. Something folks have to remember is that when you turn the volume down, regardless of whether it's in an analog stage or digital stage, it becomes quieter (duh). You hear less signal, and your ear/brain's signal to noise ratio goes down. So you won't hear as much detail when it's quieter anyway. What I have found by playing with the volume is when I go from loud (near 100, which is getting borderline too loud for my system and stuff that was mastered not too crazily loud like a lot of stuff today) is that the sound recedes naturally as you would expect from a reduction of gain. I can not detect any artifacts. It works as a volume control should. I must reiterate that being able to remove an entire device (preamp) from the signal chain is a HUGE thing. I can very happily say that the benefits from doing this far outweigh any issues with bit depth reduction on the digital side with my setup. It's absolutely stunning. I am aware that this will not work for all setups. If you have a setup where 50 on the Touch is already very loud, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage. My thoughts on oversampling may incorrect; however, think of early digital CDs that came out in the 80s and early 90s. They were recorded (by today's standards) very softly. For the quietest, cranking the Touch's volume to 100 is just right. But, those early recordings are not exploiting the full 96 dB of dynamic range from 16 bit redbook! And they still sound fabulous. So, attenuating modern music (which has been recorded/remastered with better ADCs - and I am assuming no dynamic range squashing loudness wars crap) really is a lot like listening to quiet early digital at full output. Anyway it's worth a shot. It won't cost you anything, and I can almost guarantee it will sound at least different! I have not yet listened to the analog out of the Touch. That is for another day. Oh, final note: The noise floor went way down when I took the preamp out of the signal chain. Whereas before there was quite a bit of audible pink noise & hum coming out of the speakers when I put my ear against them before, now I have to strain to hear even a hint of AC hum. However, I probably could make the preamp quieter with better shielding etc. -- Leigh ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Leigh's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=10619 View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=77824 _______________________________________________ Touch mailing list [email protected] http://lists.slimdevices.com/mailman/listinfo/touch
