Hello all, I've asked this question elsewhere and have not received any satisfactory answer.
I thought I will ask here this being computer audiophile. Perhaps someone would know.
I've the Benchmark DAC2 for many months. I also recently bought the Chord Hugo for use at work and mobile use.
Only yesterday I found out why the DAC2 would light up the 24bit led when playing back 16bit material.
It was because I did not have my Windows system volume at 100%.
Apparently with the DAC2 you need that for bit-perfect playback. After some reading I understand why.
I had always assumed though that if I am using the vendor's ASIO driver or WASAPI, the Windows system volume is bypassed and ignored.
With the Chord Hugo that is exactly the case. The Windows volume setting is completely ignored.
I'm using JRiver Media Center and all my settings are correct and all that. So I don't need to worry about that.
I'm only curious to know why the Windows System Volume still works with the DAC2 but not with the Hugo?
Is this just a hardware/driver implementation specific thing? Is it not always the case that the volume is bypassed when using ASIO or WASAPI? I'm fine with having to set the volume at 100% for the DAC2. I would just like to understand the difference in behaviour between the 2 DACs.
Note, I did ask Benchmark, and they didn't really answer my direct question either. I was just told to set the volume at 100%. They didn't really say why the DAC2 doesn't bypass the windows system volume.
Thanks.
