Never noticed a loss of detail with digital volume control. Used Audiophilleo 1 (an excellent USB-SPDIF converter first and foremost) straight to First Watt SIT-2/3 for years and it sounded great. It has an IR receiver cable for remote control. Briefly added a Placette RVC, a highly regarded passive pre that worked well for me in the past, but found virtually no difference so I sold it. Used the digital volume control on the Weiss INT-202 sometime before that with great results as well. Currently have a dCS bartok and use its digital volume for fine tuned control since my preamp volume is sensitive. Never used strictly music player software volume control though.
However, adding a quality active preamp was always better. The cost of an additional power cord and pair of interconnects is a not attractive.