The final truth about DSP Volume Control in Roon

[NoobAmplifier]

Old thread, but I'm still curious: If I can apply so many "enhancements" to the signal and get Roon's blue/purple blessing, why is DSP volume attenuation deserving of the green dot?

 

[Dennis_FL]

Good question…

 

[DrCWO]

Only Roon knows…

 

[Jazz]

Sorry is this was mentioned (no time to go through all 6 pages here) but, would the danger be more about the need to set your amp to full volume if using software to control volume? So you or a family member go to put on a CD or LP and BAAAAAAM!!!! I think control at amp is more a safety issue. The technology is such now that, if the amp has an app, the volume can be controlled there with no impact on quality. So I do all mine at amp. Also, with some older systems, this at amp app control does not work. So I have to set the software volume at full to get (close) to bit perfect. Then, control at amp.
I think this is called hardware volume control (or sometimes absolute volume control).
The app sends a separate command over the network directly to the amplifier's physical volume component. The digital audio stream itself remains at a maximum, uncompressed level (fixed volume output or "bit-perfect" streaming), which prevents the loss of audio quality associated with software-based volume reduction (when that is an issue).

 

[DrCWO]

Sorry is this was mentioned (no time to go through all 6 pages here) but, would the danger be more about the need to set your amp to full volume if using software to control volume? So you or a family member go to put on a CD or LP and BAAAAAAM!!!! I think control at amp is more a safety issue. The technology is such now that, if the amp has an app, the volume can be controlled there with no impact on quality. So I do all mine at amp. Also, with some older systems, this at amp app control does not work. So I have to set the software volume at full to get (close) to bit perfect. Then, control at amp.
I think this is called hardware volume control (or sometimes absolute volume control).
The app sends a separate command over the network directly to the amplifier's physical volume component. The digital audio stream itself remains at a maximum, uncompressed level (fixed volume output or "bit-perfect" streaming), which prevents the loss of audio quality associated with software-based volume reduction (when that is an issue).

To avoid a "BAAAAAAM!!!!", I recommend using a voltage divider between the DAC and the power amplifier. It should be sized so that the maximum DAC output level (0 dB) produces a sound pressure level that is just barely tolerable for you.

Preamplifiers with potentiometers introduce distortion and noise. They can also lead to channel imbalance in the stereo signal - problem that worsens as they age.

We are talking about maximum SINAD figures of 122 dB or higher in DACs, and there are power amplifiers - such as the Hypex NCx500 - that also boast excellent SINAD performance. A preamplifier with a potentiometer undermines all of that