Nja, the most common preamps do not just do attenuation.. but let us keep it simple and not go into sound quality and what a preamp can and will bring to the table. But yes there is passive preamps (do not need any power) just many different sizes of resistors for attenuation and maybe a input selector. And if it is volume control that switch between different resistors or a potentiometer (just a fancy way to select the resistance more granulated) or if the volume control control difrent replays that just open or closes relays to select a resistor on a PCB is all the same.. It is still attenuation by resistance just slightly more or less complicated way to get A resistor in the signal path. There is other ways, like Transformer Volume Control (TVR). The cool things is that power is not converted (and lost!) to heat as a resistor does.
I’m smarter and better. JK, of course 😂 Enjoyed your vid, but much prefer more simple tube circuits with a high amount of second harmonics with. a more direct signal path, into amp with a high input impedance. Tend to prefer SS am. Excellent explanation of how a digital volume control works and their specs and performance. Audio is such a subjective thing, and different people like different things.
Very interesting analysis and thanks for explaining volume control via digital control. What would your opinion be on using a 24-bit DAC /streamer as a pre-amp, such as Cambridge Audio CXV2 linked directly to a Class A power amplifier?
Would controlling volume through Roon and Node 2i streamer with external DAC be considered pretty damaging to the sound or part of the more “modern” and improved digital processing category that doesn’t damage the sound too much?
A pre-amp is waaaay more than a volume control dude... Only recently have people been talking about them as attenuators. Learn about the history and evolution of Hi Fi. So clever milking racial stereotypes too
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Very nice topic and valuable explanation.
Nja, the most common preamps do not just do attenuation.. but let us keep it simple and not go into sound quality and what a preamp can and will bring to the table.
But yes there is passive preamps (do not need any power) just many different sizes of resistors for attenuation and maybe a input selector.
And if it is volume control that switch between different resistors or a potentiometer (just a fancy way to select the resistance more granulated) or if the volume control control difrent replays that just open or closes relays to select a resistor on a PCB is all the same..
It is still attenuation by resistance just slightly more or less complicated way to get A resistor in the signal path.
There is other ways, like Transformer Volume Control (TVR).
The cool things is that power is not converted (and lost!) to heat as a resistor does.
After speakers I find the preamps have made the biggest difference in my system
I’m smarter and better. JK, of course 😂 Enjoyed your vid, but much prefer more simple tube circuits with a high amount of second harmonics with. a more direct signal path, into amp with a high input impedance. Tend to prefer SS am.
Excellent explanation of how a digital volume control works and their specs and performance. Audio is such a subjective thing, and different people like different things.
Very interesting analysis and thanks for explaining volume control via digital control. What would your opinion be on using a 24-bit DAC /streamer as a pre-amp, such as Cambridge Audio CXV2 linked directly to a Class A power amplifier?
No problem.
Would controlling volume through Roon and Node 2i streamer with external DAC be considered pretty damaging to the sound or part of the more “modern” and improved digital processing category that doesn’t damage the sound too much?
Bluesound says it is a 32 bit DAC so should be less damaging
I added my old Rotel preamp to my Node2i and noticed sound improvement specially at low volume levels !
A pre-amp is waaaay more than a volume control dude... Only recently have people been talking about them as attenuators. Learn about the history and evolution of Hi Fi. So clever milking racial stereotypes too