Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm sure all those alternative volume controls are valid solutions to the volume problem.
But I still don't see how to solve a conflict between a home theater application and a computer audiophile application.
Yes, you can run your dac(s) straight into the power amp(s) and control the volume, but now how are you going to operate your Oppo/Directv (HDMI) without separate amps/speakers?
The switching action of a Pre/Pro is quite valuable unless you want to manually swap connections. And according to Amir's measurements, the Pre/Pro may be a huge performance bottleneck.
Again, I don't care about the audiophile quality of Oppo/Directv. That will be good enough through, in my case, an Emotiva XMC-1.
Or, is the MCH analog passthrough function of Pre/Pro devices much cleaner than the Amir measurements otherwise indicate?
Thanks, good weekend!
I think a lot of us are trying to figure out the same thing...
I was looking at an older motu 896 mk3 hybrid.
https://motu.com/products/motuaudio/896mk3
It looks like it could do much of what I want in what is effectively a digital preamp. My speakers have aes input, as does the minidsp ddrc 88d (aes in/out), so I'm thinking it might make for an effective solution for me. I would be able to combine more of these or other motu units along with their sound card to have more controllable, switchable inputs and outputs for whatever theater I may have. Even without their card, it can connect through USB and give me 7.1 aes out. At least that's how it looks...?
Anybody familiar with the moto products, or similar...and how this might work for my application?
I see some of the rme and lynx stuff, but if an older box can do what I need...