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[cycler2]

I like to drive my amplifier directly from my DAC without an intervening pre-amp.  So I adjust playback volume from JRiver using internal volume.  Any chance that JRiver could/would implement a balance control in Media Center, perhaps through dual/split volume controls in the existing GUI a la old school pre-amps [think dual slide controls]?
Thanks
Rich

[luckyaua]

you can do this with DSP so you have multiple possibilities like room correction that have levels adjusted for each channel or with parametric equalizer by "adjust volume"

[cycler2]

Thanks, luckyaua.  I'll give your suggestions a try, but they raise a question.  If I use DSP or the equalizer will I lose bit-perfect reproduction?
Thanks
Rich

[BillT]

You've already lost it by using the internal volume control.

[maky100]

and DSP does not work for native DSD

[Awesome Donkey]

and DSP does not work for native DSD

Correct, if you're using DSD bitstreaming (or bitstreaming of any type actually) with native DSD or DoP it'll bypass any DSP used. If you want DSP, you'd have to disable DSD bitstreaming and allow MC to convert DSD to PCM on-the-fly and output it that way with DSP.

If I use DSP or the equalizer will I lose bit-perfect reproduction?

Yup.

[DJLegba]

Have you checked your DAC's ASIO driver? It may have gain controls for individual channels.

[cycler2]

I really appreciate everyone's thoughtful replies. 

I realize, as a couple of you pointed out, that I lose bit-perfect output if I use the JRiver volume control.  But, to my layman's mind, I think that is a relatively benign loss compared to other dsp functions.  I understand that JRiver employs 64 bit processing using internal volume, so losing a couple of bits of that is a modest loss.  I rarely reduce digital volume more than 12 dB (two bits, as I understand it.) 

I've attached an interesting article about digital vs. analogue volume adjustment.  It appeared in PS Audio's free "Copper" webzine, which is an interesting read.  Richard Murison, the author of the attachment and proprietor of BitPerfect software, concludes that digital volume adjustment yields better audible results than analogue controls. Murison seems to know what he is talking about.  But he is in the business, so I employ the usual cautions.

Thanks, again for your prompt replies.

PS--DJLegba:  I checked my ASIO driver and, unfortunately, it does not allow adjustment of volume in individual channels.

 

[RD James]

I realize, as a couple of you pointed out, that I lose bit-perfect output if I use the JRiver volume control.  But, to my layman's mind, I think that is a relatively benign loss compared to other dsp functions.  I understand that JRiver employs 64 bit processing using internal volume, so losing a couple of bits of that is a modest loss.  I rarely reduce digital volume more than 12 dB (two bits, as I understand it.)

Adjusting the channel volumes individually is no different than adjusting both simultaneously.
If you have Media Center's dither set to TPDF, there is nothing to be concerned about any DSP it is performing.
The idea of "bit-perfect" playback being optimal is an outdated concept.
Most people that insist on "bit-perfect" playback are sending that audio stream to devices which are performing their own DSP on the signal anyway - it's just being performed in a black box where you have no idea what it's doing or what kind of precision is being used now.