SuperDerpBro
Member
Most things I read, and people I've asked, say to try and do volume as far down the chain as possible. I just set up everything I bought on Black Friday and am curious what is the best way.
I mostly use a dedicated ITX PC to play FLAC from my NAS.. sometimes CD player. Haven't even tried a CD yet.
I am using foobar2000 > USB > AIYIMA DAC-A1 > RCA > AIYIMA B01 > Cheap CCA 16g (for now) > ELAC DBP5s
I plan to buy a better DAC/AMP if I get more into this.
Windows volume = 100
foobar2000 = 0.00dB (exclusive mode outputting 24bit)
CD player = Coax
DAC volume = 99 (It's max setting)
That brings me to my amp. It has a digital knob (and a remote). One single notch from silence is already a good listening volume. A touch too loud for background music. 5 more clicks/notches and it's now very loud. Far louder than I think it should be.
Before this I was using the same PC/DAC with powered speakers set at half volume. I was using foobar to control volume, or the DAC if playing a CD. Weird that the old powered speakers didn't find the DAC "too hot" at max.. If that is what is going on. I really have no idea.
I've been playing with it today. If I set foobar to max (0dB) / DAC at %60 / Amp at whatever I feel like, it seems to work ok. I Just worry I'm lowering the 16bit audio to below 16bit. Also worried that the DAC might forget to be at %60 when I turn it on one day. heh.
I also bought a couple cheap used passive subs to mess about with. The Sub L/R for passive subs dont seem to do anything
Cheers
Does my DAC work like this?
I mostly use a dedicated ITX PC to play FLAC from my NAS.. sometimes CD player. Haven't even tried a CD yet.
I am using foobar2000 > USB > AIYIMA DAC-A1 > RCA > AIYIMA B01 > Cheap CCA 16g (for now) > ELAC DBP5s
I plan to buy a better DAC/AMP if I get more into this.
Windows volume = 100
foobar2000 = 0.00dB (exclusive mode outputting 24bit)
CD player = Coax
DAC volume = 99 (It's max setting)
That brings me to my amp. It has a digital knob (and a remote). One single notch from silence is already a good listening volume. A touch too loud for background music. 5 more clicks/notches and it's now very loud. Far louder than I think it should be.
Before this I was using the same PC/DAC with powered speakers set at half volume. I was using foobar to control volume, or the DAC if playing a CD. Weird that the old powered speakers didn't find the DAC "too hot" at max.. If that is what is going on. I really have no idea.
I've been playing with it today. If I set foobar to max (0dB) / DAC at %60 / Amp at whatever I feel like, it seems to work ok. I Just worry I'm lowering the 16bit audio to below 16bit. Also worried that the DAC might forget to be at %60 when I turn it on one day. heh.
I also bought a couple cheap used passive subs to mess about with. The Sub L/R for passive subs dont seem to do anything
Cheers