SQ of digital volume controls compared to preamplifiers

I have a PS Audio BHK Signature preamplifier. Love the sound but not the noise it is making.

So last weekend I connected my Holo Audio May KTE Dac directly to my BHK 250 amplifier. Using roon’s dsp volume control.

The sound was pretty good, but the magic was gone. Soundstage is less 3D and the voices are not as believable.

Have you made the same comparison, software versus hardware and what is your conclusion?

Also! Any recommendations for a balanced holographic preamplifier?

martin-andersen01-13-2023 10:23am

reg19 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 80 posts 01-13-2023 at 01:10pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I get fantastic sound quality this way: I have a tube preamp (VAC Renaissance Mk V, very quiet and sounds great) that I set at a volume level that would be the max listening level I’d ever use (for the softest tracks). Then, I use HQPlayer’s digital volume control (through Roon) to control the listening level. I use HQPlayer as I upsample music to DSD256 (sounds fantastic). IMO, Roon’s upsampling, unlike that of HQPlayer, sounds worse than redbook quality.