Source
r/HeadphoneAdvice•
halfercode

With DAC and headphone amp separates, can I control the volume on the DAC?

Amplifier - Desktop

I am putting a headphone system together. Currently I have a RME ADI-2 DAC FS, which is a DAC and headphone amp combined. I have obtained some Audeze LCD-X cans and plugged them in directly, and already my sound is glorious! (Both were ex-demo, so I've made some nice savings already).

Now, I am curious to see what difference a separate amplifier stage would make (though to my neophyte ears, the sound is stunningly good already). The ADI-2 can send out balanced or RCA outputs, and I am minded to try feeding this into a relatively inexpensive amplifier separate, just for curiosity purposes. I am reading up on the Schiit Magni and the Topping L30, both of which sit under the £150 price point.

(I had a demo some weeks ago of a RNHP amplifier, but at £525-£650, it's probably a bit too pricey for experimentation. It's interesting too that this amplifier splits opinion - some folks love it, others thought it was just OK. I thought it was fantastic, but perhaps it was the DAC or the headphones that made it sound good!).

Now, the ADI-2 has a remote control, and I think I will make use of this once I decide where my listening station will be sited. However, it looks like the amp separates I mention above do not have a remote. So, if I want to control the volume remotely, can I do it from the DAC? I have the vague sense that it would be best controlled at the amp stage, but then I am not an electronics engineer!

(I am curious to know if balanced or RCA outputs are sent out at a fixed/reference volume regardless of the onboard volume setting, and then the next stage is expected to offer volume changes, or whether the volume control on the ADI-2 would affect balanced and RCA outputs).

Posted Mar 10, 2023, 11:58 AM UTC

218
Interesting-Rub-95955 Ω•

I mean, switch to line out and see if you can adjust the volume.

And yes, adjusting it via the amp will most likely be better, both ways should work though.

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halfercodeOP2 Ω•

switch to line out and see if you can adjust the volume.

I don't have anything to connect to the RCA/balanced outputs yet 😼

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Interesting-Rub-95955 Ω•

You can still switch to line out and see if the volume control on the remote does anything.

1
D00M98154 Ω•

Theoretically, the best signal to noise is obtained by:

  • Windows volume set at 100%
  • DAC volume set at 100%
  • Adjust volume on the Amp

However, in practice I cannot hear any difference. So I just go by what is convenient.

This was what I did previously. I set DAC at 100%, and Amp set at 50%, and I controlled volume in Windows. I have a keyboard with rotation knob for volume, so that was easiest for me. I can use the keyboard Windows volume control for PC speakers and headphones.

But later I bought headphones that is hard to drive, so my Amp volume settings have to be completely different on the various headphones. After that, I changed my control to:

  • Headphones: Windows at 100%, DAC at 100%, and adjusting volume on Amp.
  • PC Speakers: Control thru Windows. Not using DAC or Amp for PC speakers.
2
HackingHiFi179 Ω•

It looks like this unit is meant to be used as a dac amp combo I don’t think you need a separate amp. But weirdly it doesn’t seem to list how much power it has anywhere so I’m not sure. If you’re listening around half volume and it’s loud you should be ok though. An amp is not going to make a big difference unless you’re underpowering your headphones.

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halfercodeOP2 Ω•

I don’t think you need a separate amp

That's entirely true, yes - it works fine as it is.

An amp is not going to make a big difference unless you’re underpowering your headphones.

I have a few reasons for wanting to try a separate amp.

Firstly, the shop demo where I tried the RNHP connected the RNHP to a Chord Mojo 2, despite the Mojo having its own headphone socket. My assumption was that the seller believed the RNHP's amplifier stage to be better than the Mojo's built-in one.

Secondly, I was partly wondering what a tube amp would sound like - though following feedback in this sub, I am less enamoured of this idea. (One interesting item of feedback was that tube amplifiers are better suited for pre-1985 recordings where tubes would have been used in the mastering process - but most of my music is newer than that).

If you’re listening around half volume and it’s loud you should be ok though.

That's a good point - I am on about three quarters power, so I probably have sufficient headroom. But I did wonder if having more power capability might also deliver a different sound presentation.

2
HackingHiFi179 Ω•

It may. For instance on the 560s from sennheiser it can sound pretty loud on even something like an apple dongle. But when I added in a real amp I got better dynamics in the headphone, better sense of separation and bass response. So you may be onto something. You could always pair your amp with a preamp too. I think this schiit model has a remote that could adjust volume for you.

https://www.schiit.com/products/saga-s?Finish=560&Voltage=373&Plug%20Type=375&gclid=Cj0KCQiAx6ugBhCcARIsAGNmMbjc-JZX3L2Fz6BZN3xldk4WVtF1rnoqzgraDaTZjsIriUdDgH_LBZkaAlSBEALw_wcB

1
halfercodeOP2 Ω•

But when I added in a real amp I got better dynamics in the headphone, better sense of separation and bass response

Yeah, this is exactly what I'd like to investigate.

I think this schiit model has a remote that could adjust volume for you.

Ah, interesting - thanks. I had to do a quick internet search on the differences between headphone amps and pre-amps, and I think I understand it! The Saga looks lovely, and I confess I am a sucker for a motorised potentiometer.

For me, the key to whether a preamp would do the trick is whether I would get quality gains in a product that is not specialised for headphone use.

1
HackingHiFi179 Ω•

I think you’d still have to pair the preamp with an amp. But this would give you volume control using a remote even with an amp that doesn’t have a remote if that makes sense. You’d control the volume through the preamp.

2
HackingHiFi179 Ω•

Another option would just be to replace your setup with something less expensive and simpler.

Something like this would probably give you all that you need in a cheap simple all in one package and it includes a remote.

https://apos.audio/products/topping-dx3-pro-plus-bluetooth-dac-amp

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