DAC/Pre's Digital attenuation vs. analog

I have done a few shootouts between setups using volume controls on the DAC, and uning preamps, and finally ended up settling for "DAC direct" (PS audio perfectwave MKII). Prior to the arrival of the MKII, I found a slight advantage in using an very expensive (tube) preamp. Based on my experience, I am quite confident concluding that for a given budget, and with no need for input switching, DAC direct will give you the best results - considering you can buy a better DAC with the money you save on the preamp. If you don't have the time/appetite to circulate different pieces of gear through your system and make the decision based on your own observations, I would have no problem recommending going the DAC2 route. You will also save cabling funds, which can all be applied towards better hardware elsewhere in the chain.

Isn't it fascinating how different well respected digital audio design engineers can express diametrically opposing views on something as basic as loss of resolution in digital volume controls or lack thereof. Engineering is supposed to be an exact science! In the absence of consensus I trust my ears, and ended up ditching a 10k preamp in favor of digital volume control.

I use a PC with JRiver 17 (tried to get the JPlay plugin to work - no joy). From what I gather, playing in any WASAPI / ASIO mode the slider does not work.

I control volume digitally in the Trinnov 4 channel processor

http://www.trinnov.com/products/pro-audio/st2-pro/?lang=en_us

This processor sits before my PS audio DAC. I run the dac at 100. I am actually thinking of recalibrating my system, running the PS audio at 80, and doing less digital attenuation in the Trinnov.

By the way, does your DAC have remote volume control? I may decide to give it a whirl, but no remote control would be a dealbreaker.

Steve, the Trinnov has digital in/out. It also operates as a crossover. I use the Trinnov DAC for my subs, and the Trinnov digital out into my PS audio DAC.

I do lots of late night listening to music that don't need the subs, so I could play this music in 2.0 mode and use an analog volume control on the DAC if this is indeed better.

If I get your DAC but then have to control volume digitally on the Trinnov on the iPad (which is what I am doing now), I would not have the analog volume control benefit.

Steve, that sounds like a reasonable approach. One 3 feet trip to the audio rack to set volume on the DAC for each listening session is doable. I will wait for the offramp 5 I ordered to arrive first, but my next project may well be a shootout of your DAC against the Perfectwave MKII.