Controlling volume with Pico DAC/Amp and Foobar2k

[esn89]

So I have a Pico DAC/Amp coming in this week, and I have already loaded up all my FLACs onto my computer, downloaded foobar2k and installed this plug-in:
http://www.foobar2000.org/components/view/foo_out_wasapi
 
I am running Windows 7 and I just realized that there are three ways to control volume:
-My laptop's windows volume control (the one that is built in that I can control on my keyboard)
-The one that it is Foobar2l
-The volume pot on my Pico DAC/Amp
 
So the question here is, do I max out any of them? 
Where should I adjust and fine tune the audio if I find that it is too loud?
Is there a formula to achieve the highest sound quality?
 
Thanks in advance
 
 

 

[electronicgoo]

I could be wrong but from what I read you do not want to max out any volume controls including those that are managed by your operating system.  You could try by setting your windows 7 volume to 80%-90% and then increase your other sources of volume control to your preferred liking.
 
My guess would be that you want to adjust your volume using the volume knob on your pico dac/amp after you've set your software/os volume.

 

[headfinoob]

For your case, you will be using a USB DAC, so you would want Foobar volume at maximum.  You will want your laptop volume at maximum.  Both of these volume controls will be in the digital domain.
Foobar volume control probably has no appreciable impact on sound quality unless you attenuate a lot, however, it will be bit-perfect from Foobar with the volume at max.
I can't remember exactly how the Windows 7 volume control behaves with WASAPI, but I believe that for your case you want it maxed out.  Depending on the audio device, the volume control does nothing with WASAPI.  For example, my Onkyo's SE-200PCI's analog preouts are always at maximum output, no matter what any volume slider in Windows 7 is set at (with the exception of Foobar's volume control). 
Generally, since you are using a DAC, the volume slider in Windows 7 should be at maximum so there is no digital round error.  The Windows 7 volume mixer also has a slider for Foobar, which just adjusts Foobar's own volume control.
 
 
 
 

 

[Mauricio]

If you are running Foobar2000 under WASAPI with USB output, all Windows audio controls, including volume, are bypassed.  That's the intent of WASAPI: to bypass Windows.  You should max out volume in Foobar, and control volume via the Pico.

 

[headfinoob]

Quote:

If you are running Foobar2000 under WASAPI with USB output, all Windows audio controls, including volume, are bypassed.  That's the intent of WASAPI: to bypass Windows.  You should max out volume in Foobar, and control volume via the Pico.

Interestingly, different sound cards behave differently using WASAPI.  For example, my Onkyo SE-90PCI allows for analog volume control of the preouts by using the Windows Device volume slider.  Window's foobar volume slider in this case can be muted and sound still plays normally.
When using my Onkyo SE-200PCI, the Master Volume slider level has no effect on the sound.  The preouts are always at maximum output.  Window's foobar volume slider in this case actually controls foobar's own volume control.
USB DACs should utilize the Windows Device volume at maximum, or else it will no longer be bitperfect.  If you have a sound card, chances are the Windows Device volume will adjust the analog output level.

 

[Mauricio]

I use a laptop so no sound card.  In my set-up with an outboard DAC and WASAPI, Window sounds are disabled, and the Foobar level slide controls volume, albeit it with a delay.  Ditto for MusicBee.

 

[headfinoob]

Quote:

I use a laptop so no sound card.  In my set-up with an outboard DAC and WASAPI, Window sounds are disabled, and the Foobar level slide controls volume, albeit it with a delay.  Ditto for MusicBee.

So foobar's slider in the Windows Mixer has no effect on sound, right?  Also, since you're using a USB DAC (correct?) the Windows Device volume slider is all the way up, right?  The delay with the volume control in foobar is due to the buffer length.  You can get less delay by reducing the buffer size.
Not too long ago I upgraded to a receiver with a volume control and a remote control.  Now I just mute every single Windows slider, and use foobar's volume control at max.  I control volume with the remote control on my receiver.  My setup is a little weird because I can mute every Windows volume slider, including the Window's Device slider, and I still get 100% output.  If I powered my speakers with a power amplfier that lacked volume control, I'd have to use foobar's volume control.
 
For the OP, just maximize foobar and Windows volume sliders, and control volume with amp as Mauricio suggests.
 

 

[Mauricio]

Foobar slide on Window's mixer?  The only Foobar slide that I see is on Foobar itself.