I was planning on buying a DAC with build in analog volume control, but ended up getting the EMM labs DAC2X which has no volume control. I am using a Trinnov processor as input, using its digital volume control, attenuating up to -50db. As a result - I was assured by many - I was loosing resolution.
I use the DAC2X in an integrated MCH and 2 channel system, so when the respectable EMM Labs Switchman 3 (6 channel analog pre) showed up used at a fair price, I scooped it up without hesitation.
I compared analog (Switchman) and digital (Trinnov) domain volume control in my system. Even at relatively high attenuation levels the digital volume control wins hands down. What my ears tell me is that any type of preamp in a very transparent system is subtractive, i.e. the best you can do is minimize loss. Apparently any loss of resolution due to dithering in the digital domain is far less than inserting a set of cables and an active preamp. The gap may narrow and may be disappear completely as you move up the preamp food chain. But the Switchman is no slouch, and the gap was very substantial.
I had previously taken out a 10K tube preamp because it did not offer me any improvements over digital volume control. This second round comparison confirms my initial findings. Dedicated analog preamps are necessary only for analog sources. In an all digital system they are obsolete. The future are various types of boxes offering any combination of the following: music server, DRC / EQ, volume control (digital or analog domain), digital input switching, D/A conversion.
I use the DAC2X in an integrated MCH and 2 channel system, so when the respectable EMM Labs Switchman 3 (6 channel analog pre) showed up used at a fair price, I scooped it up without hesitation.
I compared analog (Switchman) and digital (Trinnov) domain volume control in my system. Even at relatively high attenuation levels the digital volume control wins hands down. What my ears tell me is that any type of preamp in a very transparent system is subtractive, i.e. the best you can do is minimize loss. Apparently any loss of resolution due to dithering in the digital domain is far less than inserting a set of cables and an active preamp. The gap may narrow and may be disappear completely as you move up the preamp food chain. But the Switchman is no slouch, and the gap was very substantial.
I had previously taken out a 10K tube preamp because it did not offer me any improvements over digital volume control. This second round comparison confirms my initial findings. Dedicated analog preamps are necessary only for analog sources. In an all digital system they are obsolete. The future are various types of boxes offering any combination of the following: music server, DRC / EQ, volume control (digital or analog domain), digital input switching, D/A conversion.