Digital in to Minidsp 2x4 hd gain structure question

[Alannn]

I want to stream from Wiim Mini through toslink to Minidsp 2x4 hd. Then analog out directly to my power amps. Both Wiim Mini and 2x4 hd use 32 bit internal processing for volume control. Is there any disadvantage in controlling volume in Wiim Mini instead of 2x4 hd? The Wiim android app provides reliable wireless volume control through my phone which is desirable.

My 2x4 hd will provide high pass filter and delay to mains, along with low pass filter, delay, and room correction filters to my 2 subs. My power amp gain is 25 dB, and my main speakers' sensitivity is 85 dB @ 2.83V/1m, so at my 12 foot listening distance, I am generally not prone to hearing the Minidsp noise floor.

Please explain how Minidsp 2x4 hd performance suffers when, for example, I am listening at low level and attenuating Toslink output from my streamer to the 2x4 hd.

Or is there no audible difference between digital volume control in my streamer vs digital volume control in my Minidsp 2x4 hd.

 

[Mort]

Is there any disadvantage in controlling volume in Wiim Mini instead of 2x4 hd?

You can do it that way sure. You'll have to leave the 2x4 high enough to support your max listening volume on the mini.

 

[Ruediger]

This is basically a question about gain structure. Do your poweramps allow adjustment?

In theory you want your sources to produce a relatively strong signal and not something like volume 10%. It starts with the amps to get into useable ranges with the sources.

The WiiM provides the app, the MiniDSP a remote. In terms of control: why not both? Also easy to try out.

I think the gain structure setup outranks the technical details about how each box attenuates volume. But I don't know if one of the two is clearly a worse choice. So that's just my opinion.

 

[Alannn]

This is basically a question about gain structure. Do your poweramps allow adjustment?

My question is about gain structure and remote volume control. The Wiim streamer app offers easy volume control from my phone. There is a slide control that takes a second to set to my desired volume. The Minidsp infared remote for volume is simply not going to easily provide the same level of precise, instantaneous control. My 2 power amps are connected to subs and mains and do not have remote gain control.

In theory you want your sources to produce a relatively strong signal and not something like volume 10%. It starts with the amps to get into useable ranges with the sources.

I wish I understood that statement as applied to a digital signal.
I have only one source. It is digital from my Wiim streamer. As I posted, my Minidsp is my DAC (among other functions). I have no understanding of "useable range" of a digital signal. All I know is with digital volume control of the 32 bit signal, even significant volume attenuation will not cause audible bit loss, by the time it gets reprocessed. My streamer is set to output at 24-bit / 192 kHz to my 2x4 hd.