I don't know why you guys are not talking about this, but I think that the real issue with using the DAC to attenuate the volume is whether that is achieved by analog or digital methods.
Good point...
The following has been copied from the PS Audio Forum:
Is the PWD perfect? Not entirely but close. Used in the last 50% of its volume setting (where any serious listening would be) you get a free lunch so to speak.
Can you expand on this Paul? Is that the loudest or quietest 50% percent? Why is there a difference? Also, the Slimdevices Transporter had a bug which occasionally caused full-volume output. Im sure youd never release a product with a bug, but that brings up a more interesting point. A product like this is probably going to benefit firmware updates. How will this be handled? An Ethernet port would have been nice (Im sure itll be on the PWD II )
The loudest 50%. The volume control is such that the loudest 50% is handled without any loss of data (its a digital volume control meaning it is just doing math and not an extra element in the audio chain). In the lower 50% there is a small data loss but we have this setup so for any serious listening youre way outside of this area,
For updates, all PerfectWave products will be easily field upgradable by the customer.
Paul McGowan - 27 January 2009 01:10 PM
Hi folks, I havent participated in this forum for a while and just re-registered.
Im assuming from your statement that the output level of the PWD in the lowest 50% of the VCs range is relatively low and would produce a low volume level with the average amp and speaker combination, lower than a serious listening level. A logical and appropriate choice, although difficult (actually impossible) to get right with every amp and speaker combination, particularly with very high sensitivity speakers. Am I correct?
It popped into my head that given that the output stage of a DAC is similar to a preamp, that your Gain Cell level control could be used as the volume control in the PWD. Seems obvious, but things are rarely as simple as they ought to be, and there are likely many reasons why this was not done. Just wondering
Absolutely this would be a perfect place for a Gain Cell except we dont need one since the digital attenuation scheme obviates the need for a Gain Cell. Heres the deal. The output of the DAC is an analog output stage (discrete type in ours) and has very little gain. Its near a gain of 1 and is really there as an output driver and balanced device to lower any common harmonics - and to isolate the IV stage. A Gain Cell makes the most sense when you have a large dB change you want to effect as in a preamp.
The only thing cleaner than a Gain Cell is this simple output stage and the digital attenuation scheme were using.
For this reason, I listen through my preamp because I tend to do a lot of listening in the evening under the 50% "level." I have driven the amp direct via the PWD at levels well above the 50% range with exceptional results.
Ben