Hi all, I'm looking to build a 2.1 system using a Dayton Audio DSP kernel with three channels of amplification (Icepower most likely). My question is how to best control the volume. The DSP system allows a pot to be used as a volume control, however my understanding is that this occurs in digital and is effectively removing bit depth, hence low volume listening will be at reduced audio quality as the audio will be produced with more pronounced digital 'steps' and any noise will be fully amplified. I'm very happy with digital (I'll be playing from flac/steaming sources) but want to avoid loss of quality. So I guess my first question is - is this the case? Or does volume alter the gain on the DAC within these digital boards?
Assuming this is so, I need a way to control volume on the 3 channel output from the DSP before it reaches the power amplifiers. I could go with a 3-way potentiometer but I don't like pots generally due to their propensity to get scratchy over time, and would rather opt for a digitally controlled analogue IC volume control, which I can find in stereo form in droves online. So my next question is - are there ways to daisy-chain these such that one potentiometer controls two or more boards? I'm not averse to soldering in a two-way pot to two control boards but I'd rather use an off-the-shelf option if possible for the likely better reliability.
Assuming this is so, I need a way to control volume on the 3 channel output from the DSP before it reaches the power amplifiers. I could go with a 3-way potentiometer but I don't like pots generally due to their propensity to get scratchy over time, and would rather opt for a digitally controlled analogue IC volume control, which I can find in stereo form in droves online. So my next question is - are there ways to daisy-chain these such that one potentiometer controls two or more boards? I'm not averse to soldering in a two-way pot to two control boards but I'd rather use an off-the-shelf option if possible for the likely better reliability.
