darrenyeats
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2010
- Posts
- 111
- Likes
- 19
I am using my Benchmark DAC1 HDR for my new headphones. I have found a certain configuration to get the best out of the DAC1.
I set headphone gain reduction jumpers as appropriate, leave the physical pot at max and use digital volume control upstream. (Only if the levels are still too high even with -20db jumpers would I then use the volume pot below max, but still not below 12 o'clock.)
An explanation follows.
I use the Benchmark in my main loudspeaker system as a DAC-pre where IMHO it sounds better with a very non-factory configuration (http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=137152).
Now, for the Benchmark's headphone stage the volume pot can't be bypassed. But using at least some digital attenuation gives DSP headroom (as discussed in the above link) - in view of this, digital volume control is a fine solution day to day.
Benchmark support confirmed the DAC1's headphone gain reduction jumpers don't affect output impedance so I recommend their use if appropriate (in contrast, the XLRs' "output attenuators" do affect their output impedance). So set these at the correct level for your headphones and use digital volume day to day - set the volume pot at max. (Only if the levels are still too high even with -20db jumpers would I then use the volume pot below max, but still not below 12 o'clock.)
Darren
I set headphone gain reduction jumpers as appropriate, leave the physical pot at max and use digital volume control upstream. (Only if the levels are still too high even with -20db jumpers would I then use the volume pot below max, but still not below 12 o'clock.)
An explanation follows.
I use the Benchmark in my main loudspeaker system as a DAC-pre where IMHO it sounds better with a very non-factory configuration (http://www.pinkfishmedia.net/forum/showthread.php?t=137152).
Now, for the Benchmark's headphone stage the volume pot can't be bypassed. But using at least some digital attenuation gives DSP headroom (as discussed in the above link) - in view of this, digital volume control is a fine solution day to day.
Benchmark support confirmed the DAC1's headphone gain reduction jumpers don't affect output impedance so I recommend their use if appropriate (in contrast, the XLRs' "output attenuators" do affect their output impedance). So set these at the correct level for your headphones and use digital volume day to day - set the volume pot at max. (Only if the levels are still too high even with -20db jumpers would I then use the volume pot below max, but still not below 12 o'clock.)
Darren
