Digital in/out volume controller

[Jazzman53]

Can someone recommend a digital in/out volume controller for my TV's optical/digital out?

I want to feed my TV's optical digital output directly into a digital input on my audio system's DSP/Crossover. The TV's digital out isn't volume controlled so I will need an interface to control the volume.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Charlie

 

[Old_School_Brad]

A Wiim Pro could do that and you can get a convenient bluetooth remote control for it so you can place it in a cabinet. Of course it also does a lot of other stuff you may not need?

 

[somebodyelse]

I think the options are something much more capable like the Wiim or similar, or some DIY with a Raspberry Pi or similar. Does your DSP/crossover have some sort of control interface like a serial port or network?

 

[Jazzman53]

A Wiim Pro could do that and you can get a convenient bluetooth remote control for it so you can place it in a cabinet. Of course it also does a lot of other stuff you may not need?

View attachment 393523

Thanks Brad!

The Wiim Pro could be the ticket... but only if its digital in can be volume-controlled and routed to its digital out.

Most streamers have a digital in to allow using it as a stand-alone DAC, where the digital in is converted to analog out only (i.e. no pathway from digital in to digital out).

I will first need to verify whether the Wiim Pro can volume-control its digital input and rout it to its digital output.

 

[Jazzman53]

I think the options are something much more capable like the Wiim or similar, or some DIY with a Raspberry Pi or similar. Does your DSP/crossover have some sort of control interface like a serial port or network?

My DSP has an ethernet port for connecting its Ipad control app via the router.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

Thanks Brad!

The Wiim Pro could be the ticket... but only if its digital in can be volume-controlled and routed to its digital out.

Most streamers have a digital in to allow using it as a stand-alone DAC, where the digital in is converted to analog out only (i.e. no pathway from digital in to digital out).

I will first need to verify whether the Wiim Pro can volume-control its digital input and rout it to its digital output.

It can. I have the Wiim Pro Plus model, but it's the same functionality.

https://wiimhome.com/pdf/WiiM%20Pro%20User%20Manual.pdf

 

[JustJones]

I thought volume control should come after DSP. I'm not sure there would be any audible difference for watching television but you're attenuating the signal before it's being processed by your DSP.

 

[Old_School_Brad]

I thought volume control should come after DSP. I'm not sure there would be any audible difference for watching television but you're attenuating the signal before it's being processed by your DSP.

So?

 

[somebodyelse]

My DSP has an ethernet port for connecting its Ipad control app via the router.

If the protocol is public, or has been reverse engineered, making a networked remote would be an option. Something a bit like this one does for Neumann's DSP speakers.

 

[RayDunzl]

I thought volume control should come after DSP.

General Case:

If the DSP is set to provide a boost to some frequencies, then the incoming signal to the DSP should be attenuated to avoid clipping.

Digital volume control after DSP, to select the listening level, usually attenuation, is another matter.

 

[RayDunzl]

In my case, the DSP has both input and output volume sontrol.

Before DSP to attenuate the signal to allow for DSP boosts, and after DSP for listening level.

However, I use a preamp after the DSP for volume control, so, choices.

 

[JustJones]

General Case:

If the DSP is set to provide a boost to some frequencies, then the incoming signal to the DSP should be attenuated to avoid clipping.

Digital volume control after DSP, to select the listening level, usually attenuation, is another matter.

I always applied appropriate headroom in DSP to accommodate any boosts and volume control was last before amplification.

In the use case in this thread I was simply wondering if attenuation from the Wiim Pro which I assume will fluctuate if using for volume control before DSP would not be a best case use though it may not be audible.

 

[Rednaxela]

Perhaps a miniDSP nanoDIGI?

 

[somebodyelse]

Perhaps a miniDSP nanoDIGI?

Aren't they discontinued?

 

[Rednaxela]

Aren't they discontinued?

You’re right, sorry! Maybe second hand then.

 

[Jazzman53]

I thought volume control should come after DSP. I'm not sure there would be any audible difference for watching television but you're attenuating the signal before it's being processed by your DSP.

Now that you mention it;
I'm feeling pretty much like an idiot at the moment for not seeing the obvious from the beginning.

When I'm playing music on my system, I set the DSP/Crossover input gain to full and control the volume upstream, using my Logitech Transporter streamer/digital preamp's Ipad control App, which is convenient and makes perfect sense.

I could also rout the TV audio through the Transporter and control the volume there, but that would require multiple AD/DA conversions in signal path, which I didn't want to do.

However, I completely overlooked the fact that my DBX has additional AES inputs with gain controls.

My TV has an optical audio out and the DBX has AES inputs so all I have to do is purchase a $20 Optical-to-AES adaptor, connect the TV into the DBX, and control volume there using the input gain fader. Then I can play Youtubes from the TV or music from the Transporter by merely selecting Input 1 or Input 2 on the DBX.

Problem solved

Thanks for your input!