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Studio DAC8x documentation / hardware volume control

Stephan Brenner

April 04, 2025 06:08

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Dear HiFi Berry team / forum,

some month ago I have had some discussion about the upcoming studio line of 8 channel DACs. Now this product is avialable. Great. But when I try the documentation on your page, there is nothing. Can you please provide the missing document?

Background of my question is the following: it was said, that the studio DAC8x will have hardware volume control. Which would be a great feature, especially in active speaker projects. But until now I cannot find any information about this.

many thanks and best regards... Stephan 

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7 comments

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  HiFiBerry team April 04, 2025 06:37

  The data sheet is here:
  https://www.hifiberry.com/docs/data-sheets/datasheet-studiodac8x/
  
  There is no hardware volume control implemented today. While this might come as a feature in the future, we won't commit on this and we won't commit on any schedule.
  
  
  

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  Stephan Brenner April 04, 2025 06:51

  thanks a lot. Okay, than I have the information I need. Best regards...

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  Stephan Brenner April 04, 2025 09:17

  sorry, once again me. If there is no hardware volume control, is it ensured that at no time there is any "plopp" or noise on the output when booting the rasperry (or other events)? The reason for this question is quite simple: when connecting amplifiers without own volume control to the studio DAC8x it would be very harmful to speakers connected (for example tweeters) in an active loudspeaker setup. The resolution of the DAC8x itself is according to my understanding high enough the enable software volume control (via CamillaDSP) with quite large headroom.

  Is the PCM5242 I2C input connect to the raspberry? If yes, controlling the volume using I2C should be possible?!

  Thanks agaín. Stephan 

  Edited by Stephan Brenner April 04, 2025 09:34
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  HiFiBerry team April 04, 2025 09:51

  What you're talking about has nothing to do with hardware volume control. A hardware volume control won't help you with this at all. When the device turns on, you can't use the volume control as the system is still booting. What you would need to make sure there will never be some kind of pops is a circuit that disconnects the DAC from your amplifier as long is it's not in a "known good" state. 
  In general the DACs on the board behave very well and won't create turn-on pops with most of the amplifiers on the market. However, we have seen so many different amplifier input stage designs, that I wouldn't guarantee this ;-)
  
  > Is the PCM5242 I2C input connect to the raspberry? If yes, controlling the volume using I2C should be possible?!
  No

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  Stephan Brenner April 04, 2025 10:57

  okay, maybe this is the best to use a GPIO to switch the signals using relais. Best regards. Stephan

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  HiFiBerry team April 04, 2025 11:16

  I would just try first. With most amplifiers there won't be an issue. if you have some problems, you can still use an GPIO controlled relais.

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  Stephan Brenner April 04, 2025 17:48

  yes, of course. I had another may be good idea. Many modern amps have a 12V trigger input. Controlling this from the Raspberry Pis IO is most likely the most convenient way.