Where in the chain is it best to control volume?

In many high-end audio systems, there are multiple spots to control volume levels. Where in the chain is it best?

[stonefree]

"He wish he hadn't done that..." I felt that Paul. You help keep his memory alive.

[FireTriode]

"I wish he hadn't have done that" LOL, me too. R.I.P. Arnie Nudell. Always will be one of the Audio Greats. ❤️

[phrtao]

Totally agree -- the pre-amp is the place to do it. That's why it has that (usually large) high grade potentiometer sticking out the front. It is pretty hard to by pass this unless you plug your DAC directly into the power amp but ....The other thing I find is that it is too easy to accidentally whip the volume up to maximum (causing you amp to max out !!) or mute it completely if it is on a phone, tablet or computer app.

[Formal_Fox]

This is the truly the million dollar question.

[HiFiGOAudio]

Your videos are always a good source of learning about our setup and chain!! Thank you, keep up the good work!!

[DN]

Older amps can have very sensitive line inputs. So if you put a 2 volt source on them they play very loud from the first few notches of your volume control. Then it is better to attenuate the incoming signal, so you can turn open the amp further.

[jamesplotkin]

OP: "Where do I want to do it?" Paul: "Where it will do the least amount of damage." Me: Usually, the kitchen table.

[dean]

I like the way he looks down when he mentions the Cainbridge Audio product! Cambridge Audio were the first company to use toroidal transformer in their amps!

[snoozzell]

I would guess it might be that a lower signal is just more susceptible to other flaws in the chain so the higher you can keep the voltage as it travels the better

[laurentzduba]

Most older - as in vintage - preamps seem to have a built in loudness button by sounding as if they have a slight bass boost during the first arc of travel of the volume knob. Offen colloquially referred to as "having a fat tone" but engineers will probably blame the phenomena on the preamp's cable capacitance interacting with the volume control / potentiometer. Although preamps that sport such a sound are often described as having a good tone and "forgiving".

[menash]

Wait, I’m confused. In several other videos you said to use the dac volume and not the preamp because most preamps use pots.

[justinharrison]

Careful with controlling component volumes externally. I’ve had my Mac flip the amp to full volume a couple of times because it wasn’t clear where the volume was going to be controlled.

[earfors]

Context is important. High-end hifi systems; multiple (cascaded) potentiometer circuits add a lot of noise, (so keep it simple Sam). Stepped volume potentiometers, and high quality resistors make a difference.

[m.]

A good quality passive attenuator between source and amplifier (not a preamp), does a great job.
Even that would have some matching impedance issues (as the volume increases or decreases) but, overall it offers noticeably more clarity and less distortion.

[RWong-wnpv]

Always start in the half middle to three/quarters (volume) . Then adjust to/for ones set up.

[davidfromamerica]

Watching numerous audio reviewers on YouTube for a number of years.
I have come to the conclusion the over hype on the product reviews are
more of a babbling con artist. It reminds me of used car salesman.
Watching PS Audio videos is much different. More real World reliable, realistic content without the con artist over hype. Now I am thinking of the PS Audio Sprout that will fill all my needs with great well thought out audio design internally and externally in one great product.

[dispersemedia]

Preamps usually have a sweet spot so I just set and forget, just like biasing a tube. Then I adjust the volume on the power amp.

[petervanderpols]

It took me some years to realise that I should reduce the output volume on my PS Audio Perfect Wave Dac to 90% to get a much better sound quality in combination with my amplifier.

[hxhdfjifzirstc]

I have this long term fantasy about a calibrated end-to-end system in which the only volume control is how loud the musician plays their instruments.

I.e. there is one stereo ribbon microphone placed at the front/center of the studio, and the gain is set to accommodate the loudest part of the entire album. Then, the 'mixing' is done, while tracking, by moving the musicians left/right, front/back to arrange them in the image. They can track individually... not necessarily all live at the same time. But the gain knob isn't touched.

They can play louder or softer, so as not to overpower other tracks. If the drums are in the back and the kick isn't loud enough, get a larger drum.

A calibration tone should also be played before or after the album, at say 85dB, so that people with volume knobs can set the speakers to play that tone at 85dB.

I want this so bad, as a counter to the fake dynamic ranges we're all forced to listen to.

And hell, if part of the album happens to reach 130dB, then my neighbors two houses over will also get to enjoy the music.

[Nephilim-]

Favourite part of the video when Paul says “just Try it!” lol.