[IronLion]

I read on Sonicflare that the new Bel Canto DAC 3 (which I plan on purchasing) will have an optional volume control for an additional $500.  I'm wondering what the purpose of having a volume control on a DAC is?  Isn't this basically putting a pre-amp stage into the DAC, so is the purpose of this for people who would want to run this direct to a power amp without a preamp in the way?

[kfr01]

Isn't this basically putting a pre-amp stage into the DAC, so is the purpose of this for people who would want to run this direct to a power amp without a preamp in the way?

Yes.  

There's a volume control on the Benchmark Dac-1 too.  (Although they have a headphone amp built in).

I don't know, if it's clean, a built-in volume control seems like a nice alternative to a passive preamp.... if you can live without a remote, which I can't.  

[brb9]

My understanding is that the Bel Canto DAC3 will have a remote - so you can have your cake and eat it.

Going direct to the amp has alot of theoretical advantages.