Hi, complete newbie here - to this forum and “forums” in general - but not to home hi-fi, which has been an ongoing passion and journey for (too) many years.
Anyway on to my question:
I have a Reference DAC on trial at present, which is connected to my Pilium Leonidas integrated amplifier. it works ie “makes music”. However, I am confused that I effectively have 2 volume controls … one in the DAC and one in the pre-amp part of my integrated.
What is the best way to set this up?
PS there appears to be no guidance in the handbook on this topic. My own instinct would be to find a way of by-passing the volume control in the DAC, but would appreciate some guidance from “those in the know”.
Thank you in advance and I also appreciate that MSB have decided to create their own forum. Great idea.
Go to MSB’s setting->volume and turn all the way up until it shows “off” so you could bypass MSB’s preamp module. However, I think you should also experiment between MSB / Pilium preamp because the MSB preamp module is really good!
I thought that “off” option was only available on the Discrete and Premier DACs - which have the volume control in the digital domain - but not the Reference and Select DACs, who have the volume control in the analog domain.
However, I will try that at home later.
PS I am pretty certain there is no way to bypass the volume control on the Leonidas (integrated) amp - if it is not on 1 or above, it is effectively “mute”.
I don’t have the same DAC as you do but here is how I setup my DAC and why I do it that way.
The Cascade has a bypass option for the analog inputs. I have the input from my AVP (for the surround system, it shares L and R speakers with the stereo) set to bypass so that the AVP sets the sound level and keeps the L/R level in sync with the other speakers.
But, on the Cascade input from my phono preamp I have bypass off so that the level is controlled by the Cascade. This keeps the level on the signal cable always as high as possible, to minimize the effects of noise that might be picked up on the cable.
My phono preamp has a fixed output, so I don’t really have a choice, but if the preamp had a level control I still would control the level with the Cascade. The analog level control on the Cascade is really nice and I try to keep the level on interconnect cables as high as I can…
Hi Ted,
Here is a link to the most current user guide that can be found on our website.
In that manual about half way through will be a menu tree graphic.
You just need to find the “Volume” option and then scroll all the way up past 100 until it turns to the “Off” setting.
This option is available in all of our DACs; However, it can sometimes be displayed differently in older versions of firmware.
Thank you all for your great input and insight (and the online manual).
Just got home … went into settings and turned VOLUME OFF
Funny that a number of you mention S202 … that is on my wish list. Mainly because, as is mentioned, I believe the synergy between MSB components is worth exploring.
I am a dCS owner, and a big MSB fan (not yet owner), and can share that among the higher-end dCS systems, there is about an even split between those using a pre-amp and those running direct. I am in the latter camp, running dCS Rossini direct to Boulder 2160. I personnally prefer the simplest signal path possible, but appreciate that others feel differently about this.
R
and yes it can be turned off.
