HW control using player interface

Help and Support Help
, , ,
1

Hi everyone,

Just upgraded to a Topping D50 III, it immediately recognized it including hardware volume control, yay!

But I’m not seeing volume control be relayed to the DAC when using the volume control in the player, or using volume up/down on my android devices using tidal connect.

What’s the trick to actually utilizing hardware volume control?

Cheers,

2

Hi there! Awesome upgrade, the D50 III is a great DAC, and it’s cool that Volumio detects it with hardware volume control.

If volume changes aren’t affecting the DAC, here are a few things to check:

Enable Hardware Volume in Volumio Settings

  • Go to Playback Options
  • Set Volume Control to Hardware
  • Make sure Mixer Type is correctly set, usually “Hardware” for USB DACs that support it.

Keep in mind that Volume control is handled within Volumio, you won’t see this on the DAC. Which wouldn’t make sense. If you lower the Volume in Volumio and the DAC would follow, every 10% in sound decrease (and the DAC would do the same) it becomes 20%).

3

Thanks for the quick response. Mixer type is indeed set to hardware.

So I guess follow up question based upon your comments.

I have the volume on the DAC set to -40dB. If I use the Volumio player volume control the volume played goes down, but never higher than the max set on the DAC. My question then is Volumio digitally sending controls to the DAC to decrease the volume but never higher than what I have set on the DAC proper?

I guess follow up question as well, how is this different from software volume control?

Cheers,

P.S. details I didn’t originally post, the DAC is connected to a RPi4 via USB, primary music source is Tidal.

4

When you set the DAC’s volume to -40dB, that becomes its maximum output level. Volumio’s volume control then adjusts below that level, but it won’t override or increase the DAC’s own volume setting.
Volumio is sending digital volume control commands to the DAC via USB (using ALSA’s hardware mixer), but it’s respecting the DAC’s internal volume cap. It can reduce volume from that point, but not raise it above what the DAC itself is set to.

Hardware Volume Control

  • Volumio sends the volume commands directly to your DAC, Your DAC handles the Volume.
  • This way of controlling preserves bit-perfect audio

Software Volume Control

  • The volume level is multiplied by a value < 1
  • This can degrade * signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), especially at low volumes ( Noise can’t be volume controlled. So assume your noise is 1% of full output (100%) => 1% noise. If you lower your volume to 25%, your noise is still 1% => 4% noise)
  • Bitdepth lost. approx every halving of volume cost you 1 bit of resolution.

I hope this clarifies a few things

5

Total clarity now, thanks so much!

1 Like