Set JRiver to upsample your audio to 24 bits (CD audio is 16). In that way you will have plenty of dynamic range for digital volume.
Thanks for the replies, much appreciated.
J River is set to upsample to 24 bits, as is the playback device in Windows Sound Properties.
As the HRT is a 24 bit DAC, this is already the case.
In general it is recommended to keep the amount of digital volume control limited to avoid loss of resolution.
I assume the volume control on the speakers is analog.
Simply compare analog set to low and digital to high and the reverse.
I’m not good in electronics but might it be that there is a mismatch between the output of the DAC and the input of the speakers?
http://www.thewelltemperedcomputer.com/KB/BitPerfect.htm
Yes the, speaker controls on the back are analog, the problem is that they are not only inconvenient to reach and impractical as physical volume controls, (based on the tiny size) but also there is only one detent or "click stop" at 50 percent. Anything between minimum half and maximum is your best guess.
I will try minimum vs. 50 per cent to see if it sounds better or worse.
As for the output of DAC vs. input of speakers being mismatched, possible, as I switched from balanced input (mini to 1/4 inch TLR on old sound card) to unbalanced. (RCA out from DAC to RCA in on speakers)
M-Audio web site doesn't seem to specify sensitivity for their active monitors that is likely higher than a typical power amplifier.
With JRiver MC would be better to limit attenuation to 15-20dB so that you won't loose too much resolution on the DAC.
Probably the best would be to build a passive attenuator (D.I.Y. resistor divider) placed just at the input of the active monitors. A series resistor of 3.9k ohms followed by a parallel resistor of 1k ohms would provide an attenuation of roughly 14dB (depending on the input impedance of the speakers) that might be sufficient. A series resistor of 9.1k ohms followed by 1k ohms to ground would provide approximately 20dB of attenuation in the case 14dB isn't enough. The use of this type of attenuator should allow you to set the internal volume control of your monitors to the max. (thus eliminating part of the negative effects of the volume potentiometer inside the monitors). Also, a passive attenuator is made of fixed value resistors with no wiper contacts and should sound more neutral than a variable resistor (potentiometer). Of course, this is a viable option only if you have the ability to deal with a solder iron…. unless you have a friend that can help you in building this.
Yeah attenuation HAS to be limited to just about that range, as any boost beyond becomes harsh and unpleasant.
I think I have seen these on EBay as kits, but again, I was hoping for something less ugly, and pre built, not that I am afraid to solder.
Just for experiment, I again switched back to system volume and that is way too loud, even with all settings on minimum.
Thanks again for the input.