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volume boost

12.26.42.2
Posted on September 13, 2016 at 09:37:30
gkarycki@njm.com
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Joined: January 24, 2013
 I'm running a desktop computer/usb dac directly to amps - no preamp - with fantastic results; foobar for music and MPCHC for movies. the only problem I have is with the volume level of ripped blu-rays which is very low. MPCHC offers a volume boost option which from what I understand is digital gain. I am boosting by 20-50% - doing the trick with no clipping - the question I have is does this boost negatively affect the sound quality - and any other comments regarding this would be appreciated.

 

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RE: volume boost , posted on September 13, 2016 at 13:54:49
Fitzcaraldo215
Audiophile

Posts: 1120
Location: Philadelphia
Joined: September 7, 2008
 In a properly set up system, there should be no need for digital gain, only attenuation. The maximum "reference" 0 dB level on any type of disc is slightly below the onset of digital clipping on CD, SACD, BD, etc. And, that 0 dB level is extremely high, usually uncomfortable, if not downright painful.

So, I do not know what is going on in your system. In my system using an Exasound e28 with JRiver, the volume control is done in the DAC but synchronized with JRiver. I have read outs on the DAC and from JRiver itself. Firstly, I have no big mismatch between BD and music media sources for the volume setting. They mostly always tend to be in the same range of about -5 to -15 dB depending on the recording and across all sources and disc types. My DAC is also connected directly to my amps.

In other words, there is plenty of volume on discs of all types that merely needs attenuation to a comfortable level in playback. No boosting should ever be required and digital playback systems invariably do no have any boost much beyond the standard 0 dB level.

You need to investigate your problem further to figure out what is going on. If you increase the volume by 20-50% for BD and it is still below the 0 dB reference at the DAC, you are fine. It is curious, however, why the comfortable level for music media should be so much lower. It is not for me.

 

RE: volume boost , posted on September 13, 2016 at 15:10:23
PAR
 With respect although you are on the right lines what you are saying is not really correct.

Indeed 0dB(fs) is the point beyond which no digital quantisation can take place i.e., thereon it is just distortion.

However the level of 0dB in volts (more correctly called 0dBfs, fs meaning full scale) is dependent upon the system and is not fixed in any way. The "full scale" can be any voltage and decibels do not have a fixed value. For consumer replay systems such as CD players 0dBfs is fixed at 2V (although this is often disregarded by manufacturers). A similar specification exists for DVD players.

However we do not know what 0dBfs is for an unknown computer. There is no standard (as far as I know). From a little research I find that a typical soundcard in a computer may have a full output of around 0.5V.

Furthermore a Blu ray movie may have a wide dynamic range which means that its mean sound levels may sound quite quiet.

So the OP's problem is related to his PC, his choice of movies and ( I haven't so far mentioned) the input sensitivity of his amp. In practice it is not a technical fault and he needs to either get a sound card with a higher output or better equalise the computer's output with the input sensitivity of his amp e.g. by using a pre-amp.

If the "sound boost" does the trick then I can't see a problem except with Blu-ray movies having a wide dynamic range. If he makes the mean level loud then he may well run into distortion problems with the loud parts (if they are explosions he probably won't notice ;-)).

 

RE: volume boost , posted on September 14, 2016 at 07:22:45
gkarycki@njm.com
Audiophile

Posts: 45
Joined: January 24, 2013
 Thank you. My system is fine for cds, dvds - it's the (very) quiet blu-rays due to the wide dynamic range. I have no desire for a preamp - love the sound of the direct connection -using a gateway FX computer and idsd usb dac (which has a preamp option which increases volume but does not sound as good as the "direct" output). The boost does the trick with no distortion (at least to me)and I also tried no boost and the "normalization" option of mpchc which also makes the blu-rays louder. I just don't want to do anything which negatively affects the sound and am looking for advise re my best option. Initially thought I needed a more powerful amp but was told by the manufacturer of my speakers that this was most likely a "gain" issue. I don't care for powerdvd but with that the blu-rays are louder.

 

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