I nowadays play with a laptop computer, either via Itunes or Airfoil, so master volume control is in these applications.
I am quite happy with the wireless connection of the Apple Airport router, which feeds digital fiber directly into my SRC2496 Behringer unit where
the digital stream is upsampled to 24bits 96 kHz before entering the DCX2496. Then filters are applied before going analogue 6 channel out.
Here is a photo of the setup: Router on top, the Behringer units, the two Trends T-amps for midrange and treble and on the floor NAD 216 power amp for the Bass. Other units are my Sony CD player, a Nad preamp used for feeding the power amp and an old Sony Tuner. On top just a bit visible is the good old DUAL vinyl player. If I listen to analogue sources the main volume is on the SRC2496.
I listen a lot to Norwegian Radio Classic music transmission over Internet. They use 384 kBit/s flows which ensure very high quality all the time. Listening to live recordings from them are a pure joy. This is what it is like going via Airfoil. A Print Screen from the Laptop:
/Erling