[Ripper2860]

Nah Commando is his best film for one liners

Come on! Everyone knows Kindergarten Cop was Arnold's best movie!

 

[Ripper2860]

You're doing it wrong:

You'll be receiving a DMCA take-down notice from my attorney for unauthorized use of my elementary school class pic.

 

[O8h7w]

I agree, and furthermore, while I may be dense, I fail to see the compelling use case for fully digital volume attenuation in a system that by every definition must eventually output analog sound waves. Even if there is a compelling use case, I would imagine that it would best be done in software (such as embedded in a music player app) rather than in hardware. Again, I may be missing something important and if so I apologize for my ignorance.

I have a DAC with a digital volume control, which I think is mostly there to allow for no preamp in a 2ch system. Do I ever use the digital volume? Nope

The use case I see is much like the use case for the transformer volume control also mentioned just a couple pages ago: attenuation with neither the drawbacks of normal passive attenuation nor the drawbacks of adding another active stage.

Useful when the gain of the system is just way too much, or in the pursuit of having the least stuff in the signal path.

Or fully digital amplification, "power DAC" style, which I see as the ultimate result of removing stuff in the signal path. Is that a path to audio nirvana? Rarely, but sometimes, in my admittedly limited experience.

But, volume control is one of the interaction points with a hifi system. It needs to be satisfying to use. I think both the large 2 dB steps of the transformer and a you're-not-getting-exactly-what-you-asked-for digital control has major drawbacks in this department.

In conclusion, I would use these technologies for extra attenuation, to reach low volumes, to get into the nice range of the potentiometer - but I wouldn't use them as my main volume control. YMMV.

 

[Paladin79]

I don't see digital volume theory as being gender-specific.

I must have missed that part.

 

[Ripper2860]

You didn't miss much.
.
Besides - my legs are rather sexy according to the only one that matters - Bill's wife.

 

[adias]

The use case I see is much like the use case for the transformer volume control also mentioned just a couple pages ago: attenuation with neither the drawbacks of normal passive attenuation nor the drawbacks of adding another active stage.

Useful when the gain of the system is just way too much, or in the pursuit of having the least stuff in the signal path.

Or fully digital amplification, "power DAC" style, which I see as the ultimate result of removing stuff in the signal path. Is that a path to audio nirvana? Rarely, but sometimes, in my admittedly limited experience.

But, volume control is one of the interaction points with a hifi system. It needs to be satisfying to use. I think both the large 2 dB steps of the transformer and a you're-not-getting-exactly-what-you-asked-for digital control has major drawbacks in this department.

In conclusion, I would use these technologies for extra attenuation, to reach low volumes, to get into the nice range of the potentiometer - but I wouldn't use them as my main volume control. YMMV.

No. Not multiple sequential volume control stages. One, analog, done! In my opinion.

 

[O8h7w]

No. Not multiple sequential volume control stages. One, analog, done! In my opinion.

Doesn't work for me, doesn't have good enough control over a large enough range. There is almost 70 dB, for me, between quietly listening to a loud track and loudly listening to the spectacular christmas track I posted a few pages ago. In both cases I want to fine-tune the volume with sub-dB precision and I want no noise, no channel imbalance, no funny business. Gain settings can sometimes resolve this but are exceedingly rare in speaker systems.

 

[XERO1]

Will you consider to make a passive (no electronics) volume control with good Alps attenuator plus several inputs/ outputs with XLR/SE in a 9" chassis? may be call it SYS+.

We've considered this, but I'm not convinced its a product. Fairly expensive with a good pot and good selection switches. Might get close to $200. Ouch.

Hey Jason, if you ever do come out with a larger Sys+, one feature that I would love to see is a switch that would allow the volume pot to be completely bypassed, which would turn the Sys+ into a pure input/output switcher. That's the one feature that I wish the current Sys had.

 

[cgb3]

Yes!! This and Deep Purple's 'Made in Japan' still remain my 2 fav live albums. (Deep Purple?? Yeah, I'm old.)

Old? I like to think of a favorite singer of mine from the country side to answer that question: "As good as I once was"

I'm sure you already know this album, but the Who "Live at Leeds" is in my top 5 classic rock live albums.

 

[adias]

Doesn't work for me, doesn't have good enough control over a large enough range. There is almost 70 dB, for me, between quietly listening to a loud track and loudly listening to the spectacular christmas track I posted a few pages ago. In both cases I want to fine-tune the volume with sub-dB precision and I want no noise, no channel imbalance, no funny business. Gain settings can sometimes resolve this but are exceedingly rare in speaker systems.

I surmise you do not own a Schiit preamp with 128 0.6dB volume steps.

 

[cgb3]

That's pretty much my trajectory, too. The Hackintosh days are far in the rear-view mirror. Apple silicone is just that much better.

There are some (me), who wouldn't touch Apple stuff with a 10 foot pole. I don't do proprietary anything, plus, I hate the ghost of Steve Jobs.

I don't preach to anyone. Choose the dark side, that's your choice. Personally, I think AMD have the best silicone going.

 

[cgb3]

Suggestion for 2025: A Jotenhiem 3 with a quieter, smoother sounding HIGH GAIN setting that sounds as good as the current Jotenhiem 2's LOW GAIN setting.

Or, add a tube amp with a preamp. Tailor your tubes to your desired sound.

 

[cgb3]

One could say the same thing about Pentacon. Whatever if ever Jason goes with a mini balanced connector, I will get to needed adapter cable or just pass on the product.

** For the record, I personally prefer Pentacon.

If you make your own cables, you'd prefer mini XLR. Yea, I can solder Pentacon, but it's a chore. I've always liked the little (solder) cups on XLR (mini or full). I think it makes a better connect.

 

[JanMc]

Or fully digital amplification, "power DAC" style, which I see as the ultimate result of removing stuff in the signal path. Is that a path to audio nirvana? Rarely, but sometimes, in my admittedly limited experience.

There is no such thing as fully digital amplification. Sooner or later you need to convert from digital to analog to feed the speakers. And attenuation is much better when done to the signal at that point.

 

[bcowen]

Jeeze I stop back for a moment to say hi and this is the discussion? Gender specific audio porn?

This is what happens when you're not around to supervise. I'd recommend you make more frequent visits to keep @Ripper2860 in line.