From PC / Mac to DAC into Monoblocks, Direct?

If you use a PC Foobar has a volume control.

My personal setup is a PC server built into an Antec Case, So it looks like a piece audio gear, this is run wireless with a laptop at my listening position using windows remote desktop. This means the remote laptop is the monitor and keyboard to the server. I connect USB to an Audio Research Dac 8 then direct to a VAC PHI 300.1, The VAC is one of the few power amps that has attenuators so I use those although I used the volume conrol in foobar before I purchased the VAC without issue. I have found a difference in the sound between attenuators and digital volume controls,they both have their strengths and weaknesses. I don't know your budget but the Weiss Dac 202 could be ideal in your situation as it has a built in digital attenuator and remote or the Weiss Dac 2 is cheaper and both of these can be had here on Audiogon secondhand. MSB make a dac that doubles as a Pre but I don't know much about them. Either way to drive directly to a power amp you'll need a Dac with a strong output stage , capable of driving 5 or 6 volts into a low impedences no more than about 500 ohms and preferably lower, The weiss will drive 50 ohms. I'm sure others on this forum will know more of other Dacs and other relevent options, I hope this helps.

Hello Cwlondon, all volume controls including digital are not created equal. Digital volume controls literaly throw away resolution as they attenuate, although dynamics seem to be untouched. Analog depending on the quality seem to retain resolution but dynamics can suffer so it would seem on the surface you may as well toss a coin. I've also used passive attenuators which you can try between your Dac and Amp, some prefering TVC types over RVC attenuators.I had an interesting coversation with John from Bent Audio, he told me if you use both digital and analog attenuators at the same time each padding down the signal and operating toward their upper limits where both loose the least and operate at their best. I do this myself and find it's better than either attenuator types used on their own and dynamics timber and harmonics are preserved. I also see you are restricted to 20 bit because of your Dac of choice, upscaling both bits and frequency will give your digital volume control somthing to loose and retain more bits. I use Saracon or r8brain, the latter is free and easy to use.Please be sure your SPIDIF cable is 110 ohm , DH Labs make a good one for reasonable money but I know there are many others. I hope this will address at least part of of you needs.