Optical Out Changing Volume

[Witterings]

If you're using a Pro as a pre-amp using optical or coax and us it to control volume, is there some degradation in sound as you reduce volume as opposed to using 100% fixed and compared to using RCA out?

 

[QuarryHunslet]

If you're using a Pro as a pre-amp using optical or coax and us it to control volume, is there some degradation in sound as you reduce volume as opposed to using 100% fixed and compared to using RCA out?

Probably none that you will actually be able to hear.

 

[hgo58]

If you're using a Pro as a pre-amp using optical or coax and us it to control volume, is there some degradation in sound as you reduce volume as opposed to using 100% fixed and compared to using RCA out?

The WiiM streamers volume control do reduce the dynamic range no matter what output you use. So 100% is the optimal if you have a better volume control downstream (DAC or amplifier).

The degradation is however usually not noticable, except at very low volume.

Some have reported degradation below 30% volume. I cannot hear that but around 5% the sound gets "flat" in my setup. If that is the WiiM Ultra volume control I cannot say. It can just be that the sound level get so low it's hard to hear details?

See also the thread 'Sound Improvement - WiiM Ultra Controlling Volume Vs. External DAC' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...ltra-controlling-volume-vs-external-dac.8235/

And post in thread 'Quality basics: please improve digital volume control' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...mprove-digital-volume-control.3063/post-88092