Volume control when using USB out

[pat1975]

hi!

I would like to buy the Wiim Ultra and go digital out via coax to my active speakers (they have their own internal DAC). My question relates to volume control/attenuation - I don't have it in my active speakers. I've already researched and found I can use volume attenuation from the Wiim Ultra even when using its digital output.

However, I wanted to know if I would significantly impair sound quality when using the internal digital volume control vs buying an external device capable of properly handling digital volume control, like RME ADI-2 Pro FS. This is an expensive box so before diving into it I wanted to get the feedback from the community.
So if I go this route, is the digital volume offered by Wiim Ultra good enough or will I need to invest in a device like RME ADI-2 Pro FS?
Thanks a lot for any guidance you can provide!

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I don’t know why you would even think that there would be any issues with using the volume control on the Ultra.

 

[pjorgenunes]

hi!

I would like to buy the Wiim Ultra and go digital out via coax to my active speakers (they have their own internal DAC). My question relates to volume control/attenuation - I don't have it in my active speakers. I've already researched and found I can use volume attenuation from the Wiim Ultra even when using its digital output.

However, I wanted to know if I would significantly impair sound quality when using the internal digital volume control vs buying an external device capable of properly handling digital volume control, like RME ADI-2 Pro FS. This is an expensive box so before diving into it I wanted to get the feedback from the community.
So if I go this route, is the digital volume offered by Wiim Ultra good enough or will I need to invest in a device like RME ADI-2 Pro FS?
Thanks a lot for any guidance you can provide!

In a purist kind of way it is preferable not to have any digital volume control...

In terms of pratical and audible effects it should not be perceived as the internal processing is 32bits and you "eat" 8 bits max (at low volumes) so you have 24 bits resolution anyways. It's a kind of simplistic answer but if you dig the forum there's a lot of information on this

 

[pat1975]

I don’t know why you would even think that there would be any issues with using the volume control on the Ultra.

I read this: "unlike a true analog preamp, digital volume control simply scales the PCM samples, which reduces bit-depth/headroom as you lower volume (especially at low levels)." --> hence my question
but I guess the answer from @pjorgenunes addresses this since I'd get 24 bits resolution anyways?

thanks!

 

[Aquaman]

Lots of people use external DACs. Be it in their active speakers, their amps or external dedicated DACs. So do I.
Using the WiiM's volume control is actually the only way for me to control volume at all. This works perfectly without any negative effects.

 

[pat1975]

Lots of people use external DACs. Be it in their active speakers, their amps or external dedicated DACs. So do I.
Using the WiiM's volume control is actually the only way for me to control volume at all. This works perfectly without any negative effects.

thanks, this saves me a lot of money!