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Hi Tim,
I hope you do not mind the PM here, as I did not really want to question your opinion on a public forum. Of course, anyone who makes a product has the right to do so as they please as well! I have worked in high end audio for the last twenty years, in both technical support, and product development, and have had a hand in the design of a few DACs, BTW, as well as other stuff.
You said:
"yes, it’s not trivial and there simply is no space to put a “proper” analog volume control in the May dac. Its remote has volume controls as it’s designed to work with something like our Azure preamp, but specifically the new flagship product coming, “serene” headamp/preamp which is same form factor size to match.
We would not implement any digital volume control as that isn’t really a good option for a higher end dac like this. Anyhow, very very few users have mentioned this, but it’s a pure dac and that is what it is. Once the serene comes out it would be an incredible matching setup with the finest components for preamp/and headamp. And one remote to control them both."While I do not agree, you are, of course, entirely entitled to your opinion! While I have no problem, specifically, with well implemented digital volume controls, as they are essentially perfect as long as the system is reasonably matched for gain, I would not consider a digital volume control appropriate for Holo DACs, as if I was using a Holo DAC, i would want to run straight DSD into it only, and of course there is no way to VC single bit DSD without running it through a modulator (again), and as one sees if one has any experience with HQPlayer, the modulator is critical, and adding an "extra" one would be counterproductive. So that leaves analog volume controls: I guess when you suggest there is insufficient room for a "proper" one you are referring specifically to a switched resistor approach, and I agree that a really good switched resistor volume control, especially with low noise low tempco resistors is about as good as it gets. But I would offer a different solution which would fit: the Muses 7320 chip. While this would of course (as would a discrete switched resistor approach) add a little noise and distortion, in no way would it add as much noise and distortion as would accumulate by adding a complete preamp with another gain stage, input switching, and another set of interconnects and their connectors, all of which are lossy. I have used the Muses chip here, and it is incredibly good: in level matched comparisons to it not being in circuit (I do not mean off, I mean entirely not in the circuit, removed), even doing my very best, i had a hard time (if not impossible) telling if it was in the circuit or not.
Anyway, again, just my opinion, and of course there is no need to agree!
Congratulations on the May, and to Jeff as well of course. I am still very interested. I have to decide if I can feel comfortable running software volume control in HQP without anything else, it is a little risky. I will not use a preamp, as this is just a wasteful addition to a system and only degrades the signal. I have done enough testing of this already, and another box and interconnects is just more than I ever want to deal with again, especially when it only adds more noise and distortion.
Best.
Barrows