Lower input volume = better sound?

[olds1959special]

If I’m turning down the DAC and turning up the preamp (which adds gain) then the sound will have more character from the pre-amp and less from the DAC, potentially changing the sound signature, right?

I had to do this to use the volume control for my DAC to control volume, since the one for my preamp doesn’t work very well.

 

[sceptical1]

You could try these threads

Optimal level for pre-amp

'Optimal level for pre-amp'

Jun 14, 2025

I noticed turning up my preamp to 9 o clock and turning down my DAC appropriately (it's at 65 now) resulted in a much fuller, warmer sound. I feel like this is the right way to do it. Bit loss from turning down the DAC doesn't matter as much in this case, as long as it stays above 60 or so I think the sound is fine. I control the volume with the DAC.

• olds1959special
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

Does turning up preamp to 50% and controlling volume with DAC sound better?

'Does turning up preamp to 50% and controlling volume with DAC sound better?'

Jun 17, 2025

I'm using my THX AAA 789 headphone amp as a pre-amp and have been experimenting with different ways to use it. Using the DAC direct to power amps sounded very good but had a buzz (ground loop?) problem that I couldn't fix. I'm going balanced in to the amp and have been trying different gain settings. I found this blurb from the designer (Andrew Mason)

"Yes using the 789 TRS outputs (gain 2) as a preamp output will be super clean, low THD+N, and low impedance. To minimize ground hum pickup, use low-ground-impedance TRS cables throughout and plug all your audio devices into the same power...

• olds1959special
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

ereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/optimal-level-for-pre-amp.63577/

Control volume with DAC or power amp?

'Control volume with DAC or power amp?'

Jul 22, 2025

I'm using an SMSL DL200 DAC going to an SMSL PA200 power amp, which can work as a power amp or integrated. I believe the sound is better when I set the PA200 to pure stereo mode, bypassing the volume control, then using the DAC to control the volume, vs playing the DAC at full volume and controlling the volume with the amp. Does that make sense or am I just hearing things? The input sensitivity of the PA200 when in integrated mode is unclear, so maybe there is distortion that way?

• olds1959special
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

 

[MaxwellsEq]

Echo chamber!

 

[Sokel]

You could try these threads

Optimal level for pre-amp

'Optimal level for pre-amp'

Jun 14, 2025

I noticed turning up my preamp to 9 o clock and turning down my DAC appropriately (it's at 65 now) resulted in a much fuller, warmer sound. I feel like this is the right way to do it. Bit loss from turning down the DAC doesn't matter as much in this case, as long as it stays above 60 or so I think the sound is fine. I control the volume with the DAC.

• olds1959special
• Replies: 0
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

Does turning up preamp to 50% and controlling volume with DAC sound better?

'Does turning up preamp to 50% and controlling volume with DAC sound better?'

Jun 17, 2025

I'm using my THX AAA 789 headphone amp as a pre-amp and have been experimenting with different ways to use it. Using the DAC direct to power amps sounded very good but had a buzz (ground loop?) problem that I couldn't fix. I'm going balanced in to the amp and have been trying different gain settings. I found this blurb from the designer (Andrew Mason)

"Yes using the 789 TRS outputs (gain 2) as a preamp output will be super clean, low THD+N, and low impedance. To minimize ground hum pickup, use low-ground-impedance TRS cables throughout and plug all your audio devices into the same power...

• olds1959special
• Replies: 11
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

ereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/optimal-level-for-pre-amp.63577/

Control volume with DAC or power amp?

'Control volume with DAC or power amp?'

Jul 22, 2025

I'm using an SMSL DL200 DAC going to an SMSL PA200 power amp, which can work as a power amp or integrated. I believe the sound is better when I set the PA200 to pure stereo mode, bypassing the volume control, then using the DAC to control the volume, vs playing the DAC at full volume and controlling the volume with the amp. Does that make sense or am I just hearing things? The input sensitivity of the PA200 when in integrated mode is unclear, so maybe there is distortion that way?

• olds1959special
• Replies: 12
• Forum: Audio Newbie/Beginner Technical Forum

I must have linked the same thread to all the above (and to OP at least once) .
One more time don't hurt though:

'The Signal Chain: How do noise and distortion propagate through my system?'

Apr 24, 2022

This article is to explore how noise and distortion change through our system, and how different components can influence the final output.

<Note 1: This article assumes some knowledge of performance terms, what frequency response and harmonics are, and so forth. There are other articles, many of which are linked in my signature, that can provide the background for these terms.>

<Note 2: This article is very long. There are not any good shortcuts to understanding the problem and complexity of signal chain analyses. Trying to reduce years of education and practice into a few posts on the...

• DonH56
• Replies: 53
• Forum: Audio Reference Library

• 

Gain-staging (including EVERYTHING, even EQ, RC, etc, not just the gear) should be designed right from the start. Mixing and matching won't cut it.

 

[OldHvyMec]

If you have a transparent preamp, it will only add gain to the signal and rout it where you want. Why would it add "character" unless you have tone control or a colored device? I run a C20 Mac it definitely has its own flavor. It's one of the reasons I still use it.

Why don't you try it' and post your findings.

Regards

 

[JeremyFife]

With reasonable equipment, nothing fancy just well enough made, there shouldn't be any character either way.
The shared threads are great, but there's a lot of reading.
Practicality suggests that you just use the volume control on your DAC and don't worry about it.
Technically, if your early stages introduce noise that increases as you raise the volume, then that noise will be amplified... but if you don't hear any noise then that's not happening so it's not a real concern.

Something else to think about: if you end up using the volume on your DAC, do you really need a preamp at all?

 

[olds1959special]

With reasonable equipment, nothing fancy just well enough made, there shouldn't be any character either way.
The shared threads are great, but there's a lot of reading.
Practicality suggests that you just use the volume control on your DAC and don't worry about it.
Technically, if your early stages introduce noise that increases as you raise the volume, then that noise will be amplified... but if you don't hear any noise then that's not happening so it's not a real concern.

Something else to think about: if you end up using the volume on your DAC, do you really need a preamp at all?

I like the tone controls on the preamp, but I guess I could use software EQ.

 

[solderdude]

If I’m turning down the DAC and turning up the preamp (which adds gain) then the sound will have more character from the pre-amp and less from the DAC, potentially changing the sound signature, right?

You assume there is a 'character' to both devices and assume that when you mix the 'characters' in a different ratio the sound signature will change.

That's not how it works. What does happen when you lower the input voltage to an amp is that to achieve the same volume you need to add more gain and thus worsen the S/N ratio. Of course when the gear is good enough even 20dB 'mix' difference won't result in audible noise floor rising.

I had to do this to use the volume control for my DAC to control volume, since the one for my preamp doesn’t work very well.

It is no problem to do this. Your gear is good enough for that to not be audible.

 

[olds1959special]

You assume there is a 'character' to both devices and assume that when you mix the 'characters' in a different ratio the sound signature will change.

That's not how it works. What does happen when you lower the input voltage to an amp is that to achieve the same volume you need to add more gain and thus worsen the S/N ratio. Of course when the gear is good enough even 20dB 'mix' difference won't result in audible noise floor rising.



It is no problem to do this. Your gear is good enough for that to not be audible.

Just in case I’m using BOTH volume controls to get the general level then fine tune with the DAC volume.

 

[olds1959special]

With reasonable equipment, nothing fancy just well enough made, there shouldn't be any character either way.
The shared threads are great, but there's a lot of reading.
Practicality suggests that you just use the volume control on your DAC and don't worry about it.
Technically, if your early stages introduce noise that increases as you raise the volume, then that noise will be amplified... but if you don't hear any noise then that's not happening so it's not a real concern.

Something else to think about: if you end up using the volume on your DAC, do you really need a preamp at all?

I went back to straight from DAC and immediately noticed a big increase in clarity, so I don’t need the treble boost any more.