Digital Volume >80 ?

[fbee]

Hi,

as my setup doesnt have a preamp, the output of my ADS1 is followed by a fixed attenuator (4k series/3kshunt) in order to limit the input voltage for the next stage. This works very well for most of my FLAC files.

However, there are quieter recordings that would require a digital volume setting of ca.95 to achive the same volume at the speakers as more powerful recordings.

Is there a problem , when using digital volume settings higher than 80?

Thanks, Frank

[stunta]

There are threads that address this, but IIRC 81-85 will result in minor distortion and beyond that there will be clipping. In general, it is not recommended.

[grahamd Linn Staff]

Digital clipping will only occur above 80 if the digital audio is close to full scale. Since you are only turning the volume up above 80 because the digital audio is quiet, it is unlikely to produce digital clipping. If your digital audio is so quiet that, at its naximum volume, it is still 20 dB below full scale, then you will be able to turn all the way up to 100 without digital clipping occuring.

Hopefully you get the idea - basically it all depends on the digital audio you are playing.

Graham

[Ian Wilson Linn Staff]

(2011-05-05 15:20)fbee Wrote:  Hi,

as my setup doesnt have a preamp, the output of my ADS1 is followed by a fixed attenuator (4k series/3kshunt) in order to limit the input voltage for the next stage. This works very well for most of my FLAC files.

However, there are quieter recordings that would require a digital volume setting of ca.95 to achive the same volume at the speakers as more powerful recordings.

Is there a problem , when using digital volume settings higher than 80?

Thanks, Frank

Hi

The root cause of the problem is you are attenuating by about -7.5dB. If you were to reduce this attenuation, you would be a few volume clicks of unity gain in the Akurate DS.

Each volume step in an Akurate DS's digital volume control is 1dB, so if you think you are just a couple of volume clicks away, try changing your fixed attenuator to 3k series and 4k shunt, resulting in -5dB attenuation.

I hope this helps.
Ian

[fbee]

Thanks Graham and Ian,

so I´ll try to adjust the attenuation:
to have enough volume at 100 (weak recordings)
to have enought attenuation at ca 60 (high lvl recordings)

Best Regards, Frank