Attenuate Output from NDS..?

I now have a NAC 102 at the front of my system, and I have about 60 degrees of usable volume control (7 o’clock to 9 o’clock) before it gets unbearably loud (switching it on for the first time with the Volume at 12 o’clock was a bit of a surprise). No such problems with the NAC 32.5…

So, is there any way of attenuating the NDS output, apart from using in-line attenuators…?

Attenuation is generally reckoned to be a performance compromise, but if needs must…

Otherwise you could try NA528 boards in Input 1 (BNC input) but again, a compromise.

For a digital source, that seems perfectly normal to me.

Is there a reason you want to use more travel on the volume knob? Or is just that 7 O’ clock to 9 O’ clock is too sensitive to minor adjustments?

Yes, exactly. Don’t have fine-grain control of the volume, unless I adjust it manually, which defeats the object of getting a remote-control pre-amp. On the NAC 32.5, I have about 240° of usable travel…

I see. To be honest, this is a problem on every remote control amp with a classic potentiometer I’ve used (exception coming further down). Even ones where they had a matching DAC or CD player to go with them. A single tap on the remote is a huge jump in volume. My old Acam’s had that problem. My Luxman has that problem… But my Naim 282 oddly enough doesn’t have the problem if you adjust the volume via the app and have the system automation link cable running from the streamer. Does the 102 have a system automation connection?

Perfectly normal perhaps, but perfectly bad on my view. Even worse if someone has higher efficiency speakers. Given that digital sources have been around since 1980, manufacturers should have perfected low gain inputs long before now.

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No system automation connection AFAIK…

General advice is to stay away from the X28 boards…

I’ve owned a 102 and didn’t have any issues with fine control adjustment on the remote. Just a quick press should be all you need.

I think the 102 has two speeds, a quick dab operates the pot slowly. A long press goes faster. IYSWIM.

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Isn’t it a double press for the secondary speed, which is actually the fine adjustment (slow)

Or, am I thinking of the 202, 282, 252 ?

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Indeed, just like any attenuation…

This is weird… I also have a WiiM Pro that is Connected to the NDS’s DAC. I use it for my server-side playlists, because the Naim app can’t seem to handle them properly. Using the WiiM as the streamer, the initial volume is much, much lower, so I get a much wider usable volume range (through to about 1 o’clock). But since it’s outputting a purely digital stream, should that be a thing…?

Is the WiiM set to variable output and not set to 100%.

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Does the volume pot need cleaning?

Has it become a bit sticky so that the control is not as good and a bit jumpy with the remote control.

DG…

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That could be it… I’ll check later…

No, control operates smoothly over its entire range…

The digital signals are a code that is embodied in Analog Electro-magnetic waves.

@Fatcat Wow. Able to set the WiiM output to 70%, which now gives me the full range of dial movement to control the volume. Is there really no way to do the same thing on the NDS…?

Is this a digital volume adjustment or an output voltage setting?

To answer my own question, from WiiM’s website.

" * If the volume is not maximum, it will break the bit-perfect playback because it will reduce some bits in the audio signal."

@Guinnless ah, interesting… this is Output Volume setting. Still sounds pretty good to me, even if it isn’t bit perfect….