They could be controlling volume mathematically through the DACs, but I doubt it. Each 6dB would require a single bit, which would make for 90/6=15 bits, on top of the 16-24 needed for most source material. I suppose they could have put in a 39 bit DAC, but the specs for the unit do list 24 bit DACs.

Additionally, I thought (perhaps erroneously) that the volume readout on the 950 indicated the amount of gain it was currently applying; that 0dB meant that the signal was essentially pass-through; that positive numbers meant gain and negative numbers meant attenuation. Is that not the case? If so, then changing the preamp by 3dB means that it's not the case anymore.

I don't know where I heard that idea from; maybe I just pulled it out of a hat or something.

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net