Volume steps / increments for DAC V1 / iPhone / Audeze LC2

Posted by: Crispin_Hill on 19 April 2016

Volume increment issues: listening to Tidal sourced music at night though this setup is great. I have a lightening to USB out of my phone and a Chord Company cable into the DAC V1... But... My volume adjustments are determined or 'regulated' by the iPhone in steps of 24. So we go from Volume 50 to 74. Something in the middle would be just nice ☺️

i know it's an async connection but wondered if there's a settings adjustment either on the phone or DAC V1 that anybody's aware of?

THANKS!!

Posted on: 19 April 2016 by Kevin Richardson

I think you are supposed to set the iPhone volume to Max.

Posted on: 19 April 2016 by Crispin_Hill

Thanks Kevin. Problem is... As I pump up the iPhone volume to max, so you see the DAC display elevating as well as the two units are asyncronously connected via the USB cable.

Posted on: 19 April 2016 by Jude2012

To get the best volume control, the V1 should be set to control the volume rather than the software in the transport (in this case the iPhone). The V1 manual will have the detail.

Presumably, the iPhone a d TIDAL app allows async connection which has been verify by the bitperfect tests?!

Jude

Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Crispin_Hill

Hi Jude

Thanks for your response! How do I make it so that the V1 controls the sound and not the transport (iPhone)? As I increase the volume on the DAC, it goes up in steps of 24 whilst the iPhone asyncronously follows suit.

im not quite clear on your reference to verifying bit perfect tests; can you clarify? Thanks!

Crispin

Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Jude2012

Hi Crispin,

It is interesting that your iPhone is connected directly to the V1 via USB and it is working. I've not come across this set up.

To get the V1 to control the volume, you need work with the 'PC volume' setting (section 5.2.4 in the V1 reference manual), I.e. un-tick PC volume and see whether this works.

The V1 uses bit perfect tests to verify that the data it receives are within tolerances for asynchronous USB operation (section 5.3). These tests are also needed when upgrading firmware of the V1 (V1 'manuals and download' page).

I am assuming that you are using the Tidal app on your iPhone to stream data to the V1 via USB and that the V1 has the latest firmware. Given that your set up is working, the bitperfect tests are not that important. However, it is useful if there is an issue. Also worth noting the USB status (section 5.4).

HTH

Jude

Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Crispin_Hill

Hi Jude

Many thanks again for your tips and clear explanations!

Indeed it's an odd or at least, 'unusual' configuration. Im relocating and have hand-carried the 'essentials' (a DAC and headphones obviously ��). iPhone > lightening to USB adapter > USB to Async USB > DAC. It seems to work and with TIDAL as the source sounds pretty reasonable. I can of course change the source to my laptop and which has much smaller volume increments than an iPhone however it's not such a compact bedside companion.

i'll play later on and report. Thanks again!

Crispin

Posted on: 20 April 2016 by Jude2012

Glad it helped. I'd take note of the max volume settings (section 5.2.3) as from my experience the volume can go up high quickly if the computer is controlling the volume and potentially cause damage to the speakers. If using cans, much more of an issue to the cans and more importantly to the ears!