[Phoenix]

This question has bothered me for a long time.
And I never got an satisfying answer for it!
Hopefully, someone here has more insight into this:

If I connect my CD-Player (Kenwood DP 7090) directly to the B60 Amp-Stage, what would - theoretically - be the result.
Better sound (because of the direct connection) or worse sound (because you have to regulate the Volume digitally over the CDP).

I've heard, that such volume controls can degrade sound quality. Is this true?

[nirmal]

My situation is slightly different. I connect my DAC (Benchmark DAC1) straight to my 4BSST, and I haven't any problem with sound quality (if that is relevant to your situation), but I keep wondering if I could do better with a preamp. I dont want to find out the expensive way that it is not true, so I havent taken the plunge yet. Why dont you connect it up and see? It shouldn't be difficult or expensive. If you do, please let us know your impression.

Cheers,
Nirmal.

[Phoenix]

@nirmal:

Of course I've tried it. But I didn't want to influence anyone who might answer to my question.

But, now that someone asked for my experience: When my CDP is connected directly to the B60 amp stage, the sound improves dramatically(!), at least in my view... It's like someone pulled off a curtain from your speakers.

This shows the preamp section of the B60 in a totally different light. I never thought such an improvement could be done so easily since the B60 is a high quality component (it surley is). However, I was really surprised by the difference.
I don't claim that the B60 has a bad preamp - but IMO a preamp that limits the Amp. And that's a little bit - sad.

Anyway - the reason why I asked my question is that sometimes actions in your system, which "sound" better to you, are totally wrong from a "reproduction of music" point of view.
So I wanted to hear opinions about digital volume controls in CDPs.

Perhaps James can help here too?

[NewBuyer]

I read this and it reminds me of the new PS Audio products with their Gain Cell technology, that apparently removes any volume control degradation whatsoever since it is simply a pure analog gain cell.

I wonder if this might be the "very best" solution to the volume degradation problem?

Regards-