Frihed89
1000+ Head-Fier
My software controls the volume through the Dac. I find that with a NOS Dac (Wavelength Brick), there is no edginess/hardness at all, no matter where I set the Stratus volume setting. (However, I normally set it about 1/3 - 1/2 up the on the Stratus volume control. That might not be true of some OS Dacs, or at least that is the experience I've had with another speaker power amp with a volume control + Dac only. Furthermore, I have put 2 different preamps (SS and tube) between the Dac and the Stratus, and I prefer no preamp.