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Music servers and other computer based digital audio technologies.

RE: Playing music files directly from a NAS.

I don't have a preamp. The analog output of the DAC goes directly to the amplifiers. I use the DAC's 32 bit digital volume control to control the volume. Normally, this is set in the range -10 dB to -20 dB for serious listening to music, depending on the recording. There is no noise with silent digital files when the volume control is turned up to -0 dB.

The analog connection has two things going for it: first, the signal levels swing over a 10 volt range rather than a 2 volt range for RCA connectors, and second, the signal is balanced which will reduce common mode noise (such as introduced by ground loops) by another 20 dB or so.

The Mytek DAC has a nice knob that controls the volume in 1 dB steps, with the setting shown on the LED display. Because I listen in near field, this knob is in arm's reach at my listening position. The Mytek can also be put in a mode where there is an analog volume control, but this does not sound as clean as the digital volume control. It is also quiet.

Tony Lauck

"Diversity is the law of nature; no two entities in this universe are uniform." - P.R. Sarkar


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