Ultra - Fixed volume do respect Volume Limit?

[SKApretto71]

Hi everyone,
Hope the winter holiday season is going great!

I'm in search for a basic clarification: if I set the Fixed Volume Output in my Ultra to 'ON' I know the volume will be set to 100. But will it still account for the Volume Limit value, or disregard it?

As an example, if if ON and the Volume Limit is 50, will the output volume be less than if it's set Volume Limit to 90, or will be alike having set Volume Limit to 100, no matter the setting in the app?

Reason to ask: I have a DAC + Preamp + Power Amp connected to the Ultra but full volume will break probably the speakers. To prevent I'll like to cut max volume to Ultra so that even maxing the volume in the Preamp is still safe output wattage.

The other option is just use the Ultra for the Volume and skip the pre.

Thanks!

 

[Burnside]

As far as I recall, the volume limit and volume output are multiplicative, not independent.

 

[SKApretto71]

As far as I recall, the volume limit and volume output are multiplicative, not independent.

Agreed. If you set the flag to OFF is exactly as you say, multiplicative. But what about when is set to ON? Does it behave the same just setting Volume = 100 or both Volume = 100 and Volume Limit = 100?

 

[Burnside]

Agreed. If you set the flag to OFF is exactly as you say, multiplicative. But what about when is set to ON? Does it behave the same just setting Volume = 100 or both Volume = 100 and Volume Limit = 100?

I’d say the same

 

[HansD-NL]

If the fixed volume is on it still respects the volume limit that is set.

 

[harkpabst]

And it's still digital volume control.

If you really think you get better sound from an external DAC and an external pre-amplifier, then in my book the DAC's output voltage should be a good match to the pre-amp's input sensitivity and/or the pre-amp's volume control should have a wide usable range.

 

[SKApretto71]

And it's still digital volume control.

If you really think you get better sound from an external DAC and an external pre-amplifier, then in my book the DAC's output voltage should be a good match to the pre-amp's input sensitivity and/or the pre-amp's volume control should have a wide usable range.

I moved from a Vibelink Amp to a Topping D70 DAC (it has Pre capabilities) + HypeX nCore Power Amp. Connection is Ultra - USB - DAC - XLR - Amp. I like the sound and feel an improvement.

I'm just wondering if keeping all volume control in the Ultra excluding the Pre capabilities of the DAC (most confort option) or do the reverse and use the Pre capabilities of the DAC for volume control (it's granular enough, with step of 0.5 dB of attenuation).

I'd assume WiiM is definitely digital volume control, but the DAC going to XLR is analogue, or I'm missing something?


With the Vibelink I had WiiM managing everything with Vibelink Amp volume wheel set to max, connected through Optical.

 

[Mr Ee]

I'd assume WiiM is definitely digital volume control, but the DAC going to XLR is analogue, or I'm missing something?

I'm pretty sure the topping's volume control is digital too.

 

[SKApretto71]

Thanks everyone for the comments and feedbacks. All valuable, I learn something today. Hope for everyone a great end of year!

 

[harkpabst]

I'd assume WiiM is definitely digital volume control, but the DAC going to XLR is analogue, or I'm missing something?

Yes, the WiiM Ultra volume control is digital for sure and I'm not even against it. I'm using it myself. I just wanted to remind you that the volume limiter is just as much digital volume control as turning the knob on the Ultra. So, if your plan had been to avoid digital volume control by using a pre-amp with analogue volume control, then using the volume limiter would have re-introduced digital volume control.

The output of any DAC is always analogue, that's why it is a digital to analogue converter. But that says nothing about how the volume control is implemented. In the case of the D70 I agree with @Mr Ee that it's volume control is certainly digital as well (not sure if there is a difference between the Pro and the Pro Octo, but probably not).

You should still try to match the output level of the DAC to the input sensitivity of the amp as much as possible, in particular if you fear that the amp might blow up your speakers. Set the DAC output level and the amplifier gain to the lowest possible values for a start.

 

[Nanook]

I've no idea if the "volume control scheme" implemented in the "Ultra" is different from the "Pro".
In the "Pro" it's multiplicative as @Burnside wrote.
It's rather a "Pre-gain" than a "limit". As far as I found out the only setting, that really limits the max. output voltage is the output voltage setting in the "general audio settings".
All of these work in the digital domain.

See:
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/does-using-eq-degrade-sound-quality-in-wiim-pro.6534/post-149817

https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/...e-out-level-vrms-or-pre-gain.6416/post-156979