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Adjusting the sonic fingerprint of a system.

I was wondering if a systems sound can be adjusted by turning the attenuators down on some components and up on others.

For example, I use Tidal on a streamer. Tidal has a volume control. My DAC has a volume control. Of course so too does my pre amp. Lastly, my amp has a volume control. Is it possible to give my pre amp more influence on my sound by turning down the volume on the streamer and the DAC and turning it up my pre amp?

Sometimes I feel I can hear the difference but other times not, so my mind is playing tricks on me. It does seem at times like slow music and jazz sounds better with the pre amp and amp turned high, and the DAC and streamer turned down. Rock, metal and fast music seem to sound better with the streamer and DAC turned up.

Do I need a psychiatrist or does the sonic profile alter when changing volume levels on components?

Thanks.
pauly
10 responses Add your response
pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
@speakermaster
Great input. It’s given me food for thought.

I think I need to throw out the attenuator on the amp. I’ve turned it up all the way on amp and it sounds pretty good. 

speakermaster
738 posts
 
Volume controls have a linear range of the control and regular volume pots will sound the best turned up to the higher range of the control and on a digital device depending on the control they too can drastically affect your sound so you are not hearing things but are noticing these changes in your controls.
pauly OP
1,012 posts
 
@steakster 

 Lowering the volume in the digital realm reduces resolution

Could you elaborate on this? Why would my digital resolution be reduced when the volume is reduced? 


onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,217 posts
 
Gain structure is important in the analog realm too.  You want your amplifiers, both line and power, to operate in their most linear, low noise and low distortion range.  Depending on the specific components that could mean adjusting the input levels.  Experiment and see if you think the changes are worthwhile.
ghdprentice
6,965 posts
 
@steakster 

+1

Manipulation of the signal in the digital realm is still usually the more problematic. 
The digital volume control is for use without a preamp. Which seldom sounds better... equipment matching is very difficult. Very few benefit from it. 

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,501 posts
 
"...Steakster has it right, otherwise adjusting gain should not change the sound at all..."

Agree. Amps somewhere along their output level show the least distortion so one might conclude that is the point they will sound their best but I have not been able to hear any difference by adjusting the input gain on amps. The one exception is reducing idle hiss on high gain amps when turning the input gain down. 
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,570 posts
 
Steakster has it right, otherwise adjusting gain should not change the sound at all.
steakster
1,877 posts
 
It’s better to set the volume @100% in the digital realm. Lower the gain in the analog realm. Lowering the volume in the digital realm reduces resolution - and may introduce negative artifacts.
mesch
3,481 posts
 
I have no problem believing that alteration of the distribution of the gain in a system would modify the sonic signature of that system.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Does it matter? These are all digital after all. So elevator music, basically. Who cares?
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