A cheap good way to control volume and reduce noise.

[Deleted member 58865]

• Volume Control
  • Turn down the volume knob on the amplifier to the point where the maximum DAC volume is the maximum volume you ever want to listen to. The volume knob will protect your speakers and your ears from loud sound if DAC volume is accidentally set to 0dB.
  • If you can't turn down the amp volume pot any further without increasing channel imbalance, insert a (stepped) attenuator between DAC and the amplifier. Turn down the attenuator to the point where DAC volume at 0dB is the loudest you want to listen to.
  • Fine-tune the DAC volume
  • Adjust application volumes.
• Minimizing noise
  • If your audio stack uses RCA cables, do not create a ground loop. If you use XLR cables, ground loops are fine. A ground loop injects noise into RCA cables.
  • If your computer's power supply has Active PFC circuit, it is very likely that the PSU is injecting extreme noise into everything around it. Replace it with a power supply that has passive PFC circuit. If a power supply doesn't brag about high power efficiency or active PFC, then it probably has passive PFC circuit.
  • If your computer monitor is powered by a regular DC jack instead of a 3-prong AC inlet, it is grounding its own noise through the HDMI cable or any other video cable. A regular DC jack doesn't have ground. Replace it with a monitor with a 3-prong AC inlet which grounds the monitor's noise. If a monitor grounds its own noise through a video cable, the entire computer/audio system has to receive the noise.
  • After doing everything above, if you still have noise problem, then buy a cleaner power supply for your amplifier.

 

[JktHifi]

• Volume Control
  • Turn down the volume knob on the amplifier to the point where the maximum DAC volume is the maximum volume you ever want to listen to. The volume knob will protect your speakers and your ears from loud sound if DAC volume is accidentally set to 0dB.
  • If you can't turn down the amp volume pot any further without increasing channel imbalance, insert a (stepped) attenuator between DAC and the amplifier. Turn down the attenuator to the point where DAC volume at 0dB is the loudest you want to listen to.
  • Fine-tune the DAC volume
  • Adjust application volumes.
• Minimizing noise
  • If your audio stack uses RCA cables, do not create a ground loop. If you use XLR cables, ground loops are fine. A ground loop injects noise into RCA cables.
  • If your computer's power supply has Active PFC circuit, it is very likely that the PSU is injecting extreme noise into everything around it. Replace it with a power supply that has passive PFC circuit. If a power supply doesn't brag about high power efficiency or active PFC, then it probably has passive PFC circuit.
  • If your computer monitor is powered by a regular DC jack instead of a 3-prong AC inlet, it is grounding its own noise through the HDMI cable or any other video cable. A regular DC jack doesn't have ground. Replace it with a monitor with a 3-prong AC inlet which grounds the monitor's noise. If a monitor grounds its own noise through a video cable, the entire computer/audio system has to receive the noise.
  • After doing everything above, if you still have noise problem, then buy a cleaner power supply for your amplifier.

Useful information.

This one here is my simple method to know best maximum volume:
Turn on the amp with middle volume knob (12 o’oclock). Then reduce it untill iPad Shazam app identifies the song correctly. If your amp is low wattage, begin from max volume. Put the ipad at your listening position.

 

[computer-audiophile]

• Volume Control
  • Turn down the volume knob on the amplifier to the point where the maximum DAC volume is the maximum volume you ever want to listen to. The volume knob will protect your speakers and your ears from loud sound if DAC volume is accidentally set to 0dB.
  • If you can't turn down the amp volume pot any further without increasing channel imbalance, insert a (stepped) attenuator between DAC and the amplifier. Turn down the attenuator to the point where DAC volume at 0dB is the loudest you want to listen to.
  • Fine-tune the DAC volume
  • Adjust application volumes.
• Minimizing noise
  • If your audio stack uses RCA cables, do not create a ground loop. If you use XLR cables, ground loops are fine. A ground loop injects noise into RCA cables.
  • If your computer's power supply has Active PFC circuit, it is very likely that the PSU is injecting extreme noise into everything around it. Replace it with a power supply that has passive PFC circuit. If a power supply doesn't brag about high power efficiency or active PFC, then it probably has passive PFC circuit.
  • If your computer monitor is powered by a regular DC jack instead of a 3-prong AC inlet, it is grounding its own noise through the HDMI cable or any other video cable. A regular DC jack doesn't have ground. Replace it with a monitor with a 3-prong AC inlet which grounds the monitor's noise. If a monitor grounds its own noise through a video cable, the entire computer/audio system has to receive the noise.
  • After doing everything above, if you still have noise problem, then buy a cleaner power supply for your amplifier.

Chat GBT?

 

[solderdude]

Kenji logic.

Best method would be to buy decent gear with switchable gain and a decent volume control in the first place.
Alas... will not be as cheap as Kenji's setup.
Every upside has a downside.

 

[Sokel]

Why am I reading the same thing in 268264827 threads?
What kind of trend is that?

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Not again

 

[Deleted member 58865]

Why am I reading the same thing in 268264827 threads?
What kind of trend is that?

Because I wanted to summarize my findings for other people. A condensed summary is better for other people.

 

[BDWoody]

This doesn't need to keep expanding. Let's keep this where it already is. Thanks.