CHANGSTAR: Audiophile Headphone Reviews and Early 90s Style BBS
Lobby => Head Amps, DACs, Sources, Portable Equipment Discussion => Topic started by: madaboutaudio on August 16, 2015, 10:31:43 PM
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Active Preamp(SS & Tube) vs Passive Preamp vs Software Volume Control
What's the best option to get most of the sound of this Yggdrasil beast with the least amount of degradation.
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If the bit-perfect nature really is the reason the Yggy sounds great then software volume control or any sort of digital attenuation should be in the trash
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However, if you play 16-bit music, and pass it to your DAC in 24-bit format (something which most high-end DACs require anyway), then, depending on the quality of your DAC/preamp combo, you can in principle dial in up to 18-36dB of attenuation without audibly truncating the the music data. All this assuming that your digital volume control is done in a first-class manner using a 64-bit audio engine or its equivalent, as implemented in BtPerfect.
http://bitperfectsound.blogspot.com/2013/03/digivol.html
It seems we can use 24 bit format on 16bit music to reduce up to 36db of loudness before we hit bit truncation. Was wondering if this software based 64bit mathematical reduction is superior to adding more resistors(e.g. active/passive preamp) to the signal path before we send it to the actual amp/opamp/digital amp of the speakers?
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I used a 50k smd stepper, worked very well.
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I used a 50k smd stepper, worked very well.
Do you have a photo of how it looks or where to buy it? :D
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I probably will try a LDR attenuator with the Gungnir MB. Should work fine with the F6 (100k Rin).
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Today I tried bypassing my preamp(Master 9) completely and connecting the Yggdrasil direct to my speakers.
Using a mix of digital volume control on PC and backpanel volume level adjustment(just one notch above min. volume) on my Yahama HS8. I was able to achieve a better sound quality(better high frequency reproduction) than connecting to a preamp.
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Do you have a photo of how it looks or where to buy it? :D
smd stepper, SE (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Valab-23-Step-Attenuator-Potentiometer-50K-Log-Stereo/301727479071?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D33098%26meid%3D7f843ed2e4d64554840b4671c0bdf5aa%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D10%26sd%3D111708931467)
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The author of Pure Music believes it's OK (even good) as long as it's not more then -12dB.
(scroll about halfway down the page or search for "Digital Volume Control")
http://www.channld.com/computeraudio.html
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The author of Pure Music believes it's OK (even good) as long as it's not more then -12dB.
(scroll about halfway down the page or search for "Digital Volume Control")
http://www.channld.com/computeraudio.html
I am beginning to wonder if adding preamp is more destructive(audio quality wise) vs purely using digital volume control.
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I probably will try a LDR attenuator with the Gungnir MB. Should work fine with the F6 (100k Rin).
Stay away from LDR's - they sound shite. I'd go stepped attenuator, if your amp allows it.
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I am beginning to wonder if adding preamp is more destructive(audio quality wise) vs purely using digital volume control.
When I have some time I'll experiment with hooking Yggy straight to my studio monitors with digital volume control. (vs going through Rag)
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I'm using a smd stepped attenuator chinese dact clone in a passive preamp and it sounds great. Best I've heard my speakers play, awesome imaging etc
when my vi dac infinity gets here I plan to do some A/B comparison of it's digital volume attenuation vs my passive
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Stay away from LDR's - they sound shite. I'd go stepped attenuator, if your amp allows it.
Which one did you try?
What stepper would you recommend for a 100kR input impedance / 75R output impedance combo?
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My local crowd was once hooked on Lightspeed attenuators, seemed fullproof at the time. Turns out light sensitive resistors introduce considerable THD into the system.
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That's not what I read on the forums (or reviews, which I tend to trust less).
Hmm...
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Take a look here. http://www.diyaudio.com/forums/analog-line-level/80194-lightspeed-attenuator-new-passive-preamp-133.html?postid=1520215#post1520215
I know that Nelson Pass is less-than-loved in some circles, but his measurements are interesting.
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Using a fiddly variable resistor controlled via a fiddly light source with all sort of foibles and fluctuations and environmental flubs seems... effed up.