Yes, but the arguments are from different positions. The bitdepth argument is from a mathmatical perspective. In other words, the numbers are identical when going from 16 to 24-bit. No change has happened.
The doubling the sample rate argument (that it doesn't harm sound quality) is more from observing mathematical changes, but not being able to hear a difference in the final output.
How are you controlling the volume? Are you doing any DSP in JRiver?
The Oppo converts everything internally to 32-bit floating point so any previous bit depth increase won't affect the final output. In other words, if the original is 10 and JRiver converts to 10.000x and the Oppo converts to 10.000xx, going from 10 (source) to 10 (JRiver) to 10.000xx (Oppo) won't change anything.
I several audio paths that I have been testing via J River:
BDP-105D -> XLR -> Parasound A51 -> Revel Salons (BDP 105D Volume control)
BDP-105D -> RCA Marantz AV8801 (pure Direct) -> A51 -> Revel Salons (AV8801 Volume Control)
I am also testing another Oppo device with an all analog volume control with similar results.
This situation is similar to the sample rate conversion where mathematically leaving the J River software there should be no change.
However, listening to the output at the other end, there is a definite difference.
The 24-bit (padded or unpadded) output sounds less resolved with what I can best described as a slight "hash" making it a bit more difficult to identify instruments and adding to existing sibilance.
There must be something going on in the driver because similar results are obtained with foobar2000.
With Foobar2000, the difference is easier to identify since you can change the bit-depth on the fly with stopping and restarting playback.
I can see the issue with configuration since additional processing within J River benefits from the extra bits.
Could Automatic mode work in conjunction with some other option to bypass padding only when the volume control is disabled?
Perhaps, a Bit-stream PCM option which is really what I am discussing.
- Rich