Wyred4Sound Dac-2 vs Preamp and separate DAC

Meiwan Hi, I don’t believe the W4S is a passive preamp. The volume control is just in the digital domain. It’s 32-bit so I’m not sure if it’s even possible for audio quality loss at low volumes. Ranperry, Sense you have done this, did you notice any loss of low volume detail or dynamics. Or did just the opposite happen and open a clearer window into the sound at any volume.

Thanks

Rob

W4S isn't passive. It has very low gain so if you have high sensitivity amplifier the unity or low-gain active preamp will have transparency of passive and control of active.

For my ears, less grainy and more detailed presentation regardless of the volume.

I am using W4S DAC-2 via async USB directly into W4S-ST 500 with excellent results.
DAC-2 doesn't have a "preamp section per se". It's the usual analog section following the Sabre DAC chip.
Volume control is performed in the digital domain, before the final analog section.
Operating internally at 32 bits, the volume control doesn't lose bits of resolution even at very low volumes.
On top of this, DAC-2 is featuring slightly better components than DAC-1, besides asyc USB, volume control and HT bypass (for those so inclined to use it that way).
My advice is go DAC-2 and skip the pre, if if don't have any other sources.

I am using the S/PDIF output from a M-Audio Audiophile 192 sound card. Works great.