wavac Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Hello my friends I am running a mac pro connected to the Weiss Vesta with firewire and with an AES/EBU cable to the Weiss Medea driving directly some Wavac monoblocks. It would be very usefull to me to use the itunes volume control. I would do that only in case that there is no loss in sound quality! Can someone answer me with confidence if the itunes volume control degrades the sound when used? Thanks in advance, Mike MacBook Pro > M2Tech Evo > Stylos SYS HAD > Sovereign Director > Sovereign Power > Tidal Piano Cera (Cabling: Argento) Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Hi Mike - Unfortunately as soon as the iTunes volume control is lowered below 100% the signal is no longer bit perfect. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
wavac Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 Chris thanks for the answer! I hope apple finds a solution either integrated in itunes or with a different software. Happy listening! Mike MacBook Pro > M2Tech Evo > Stylos SYS HAD > Sovereign Director > Sovereign Power > Tidal Piano Cera (Cabling: Argento) Link to comment
danish Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 Perhaps using the fader in Amarra would be an acceptable solution? I would expect it to be better than the one found in Itunes. JRiver MC22 -> Merging+NADAC (8CH) -> Bryston Cubed -> Vivid Giya G2/Vivid C1/4xVivid V1W Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted June 2, 2009 Share Posted June 2, 2009 "I hope apple finds a solution either integrated in itunes or with a different software." It's really not an Apple issue rather all digital volume controls have similar constraints. However, not all digital volume controls are implemented equally and some are just as good or better then analog volume controls. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
wavac Posted June 2, 2009 Author Share Posted June 2, 2009 I was wondering if the loss in quality is less important than the gain in conviniency that I am going to get. I will give it a try tonight! Thanks again! MacBook Pro > M2Tech Evo > Stylos SYS HAD > Sovereign Director > Sovereign Power > Tidal Piano Cera (Cabling: Argento) Link to comment
weiss2496 Posted June 3, 2009 Share Posted June 3, 2009 I just prepared a white paper on the topic of digital volume control. It includes listening examples. http://www.weiss-highend.ch/computerplayback/Digital_Level_Control.pdf iTunes does not use a dithered fader, it seems to simply truncate. This is where Amarra has an advantage. It will have dithering implemented in the final release. Daniel www.weiss.ch Link to comment
The Computer Audiophile Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Very cool, thanks Daniel. Founder of Audiophile Style | My Audio Systems Link to comment
Audio_ELF Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 How much using the iTunes (or other digital) volume control is acceptable depends on the user and the situation. It also depends on the amount the volume is used. If my amp is turned right up, and I use the volume in iTunes to turn it down to a respectable level (say 15-25% of maximum) then the degradation of sound is very obvious. If however I adjust the volume to a normal level, then during listening to music when a loud part comes, quickly turn down the level on iTunes but say within 75-80% of maximum, the degradation is very limited. So digital volume, coupled with analogue attenuation, is (for most people) a good, acceptable, solution. Eloise Eloise --- ...in my opinion / experience... While I agree "Everything may matter" working out what actually affects the sound is a trickier thing. And I agree "Trust your ears" but equally don't allow them to fool you - trust them with a bit of skepticism. keep your mind open... But mind your brain doesn't fall out. Link to comment
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