Is it bad?
Of course it is, it is digital so reduced dynamics and lack of resolution is what you get.
This is at least what the audiophile community says.
But is it true?
Mark Mallinson provided some data comparing analog and digital volume control using 16-bit audio
Level/ Analog /Digital
0 96 96
-5 96 96
-10 96 94
-15 96 89
-20 96 84
-25 96 79
-30 96 74
-35 96 69
-40 96 64
-45 91 59
-50 86 54
-55 81 49
-60 76 44
S/N ratio of volume control using a DAC with a -104dB S/N ratio.
Indeed pretty soon (-10 dBFS) a digital volume control gives a worse S/N ratio compared with analog.
Level /Analog /Digital
0 96 96
-5 96 96
-10 96 96
-15 96 96
-20 96 96
-25 96 96
-30 96 96
-35 96 96
-40 96 92
-45 91 87
-50 86 82
-55 81 77
-60 76 72
S/N ratio of volume control using a DAC with a -132dB S/N ratio.
Obvious if a DAC is whisper quit, the difference is less dramatic.
But DACs with a -132dB S/N ratio are rare.
A bit more: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/resonessence/2.html
Of course it is, it is digital so reduced dynamics and lack of resolution is what you get.
This is at least what the audiophile community says.
But is it true?
Mark Mallinson provided some data comparing analog and digital volume control using 16-bit audio
Level/ Analog /Digital
0 96 96
-5 96 96
-10 96 94
-15 96 89
-20 96 84
-25 96 79
-30 96 74
-35 96 69
-40 96 64
-45 91 59
-50 86 54
-55 81 49
-60 76 44
S/N ratio of volume control using a DAC with a -104dB S/N ratio.
Indeed pretty soon (-10 dBFS) a digital volume control gives a worse S/N ratio compared with analog.
Level /Analog /Digital
0 96 96
-5 96 96
-10 96 96
-15 96 96
-20 96 96
-25 96 96
-30 96 96
-35 96 96
-40 96 92
-45 91 87
-50 86 82
-55 81 77
-60 76 72
S/N ratio of volume control using a DAC with a -132dB S/N ratio.
Obvious if a DAC is whisper quit, the difference is less dramatic.
But DACs with a -132dB S/N ratio are rare.
A bit more: http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/resonessence/2.html