Have been wondering for a while if there's any expected audio quality difference in controlling the volume of the audio primarily in either the digital or analogue domains (and assuming both are equally convenient).
So for example a Headphone DAC/Amp receives and converts digital audio from a laptop to analogue. The volume can be controlled in the analogue domain at the DAC/HPA, or in digital domain on the laptop (windows volume or Tidal app volume). A digital streamer to an integrated amp with a DAC, is analagous.
Assuming a consistent listening volume, are there any benifits/disadvantages of having the hardware's volume high, and toggling the software at low volume? Or having the software's volume high, and toggling the hardware at low volumes?
The only logical conclusion I can arrive at is that with the variable resistor on the hardware, opened up/set to max volume (i.e. analoge domain unconstrained), may allow for bigger voltage swing, while achieving the normal listening volumes with the software set to a low volume.
Conversely, the high resistance on the hardware required to set a low volume, (i.e. analogue domain constrained), with a higher volume on the software, limits the current in the HPA with some possible consequent impact on quality?
Without the means to do a blind test, I have no conclusive opinion from my own tests, though I seem to favour what my logic suggests.
Any thoughts? Cos that's what we do here
So for example a Headphone DAC/Amp receives and converts digital audio from a laptop to analogue. The volume can be controlled in the analogue domain at the DAC/HPA, or in digital domain on the laptop (windows volume or Tidal app volume). A digital streamer to an integrated amp with a DAC, is analagous.
Assuming a consistent listening volume, are there any benifits/disadvantages of having the hardware's volume high, and toggling the software at low volume? Or having the software's volume high, and toggling the hardware at low volumes?
The only logical conclusion I can arrive at is that with the variable resistor on the hardware, opened up/set to max volume (i.e. analoge domain unconstrained), may allow for bigger voltage swing, while achieving the normal listening volumes with the software set to a low volume.
Conversely, the high resistance on the hardware required to set a low volume, (i.e. analogue domain constrained), with a higher volume on the software, limits the current in the HPA with some possible consequent impact on quality?
Without the means to do a blind test, I have no conclusive opinion from my own tests, though I seem to favour what my logic suggests.
Any thoughts? Cos that's what we do here
