I tried a different set up with RS520 today and I’m a bit confused on the volume control of RS520.
Previous set up (A): Laptop → USB → HIfi Rose RS520 → Preamp Output → Cambridge Audio Evo One (an Integrated Streamer with built-in Speakers (I know that this is very unconventional set up but I didn’t want to move my speakers to my office where I intend to use RS520 and waiting for the Kef R3 Meta (see below)).
New set up (B): Laptop → USB → Hifi Rose RS520 → Speaker Output → Kef R3 Meta
In the previous set up (A), I always turn up the volume on my laptop to about 80 or 90% and also volume of RS520 (in the app, say, play music through RoseTube or from laptop through RS520) at 90% as well. With preamp out from RS520 to Cambridge Audio Evo One this way, the volume control ultimately is done through the Cambridge Audio Evo One which I usually set at about 32 - 40 depending on music genre and recordings.
Now in the new set up (B) which is more conventional, I found to my surprise that the volume setting on my laptop needs only to be about 12-16 and the volume adjustment on the RS520 is linked directly to volume control of my laptop. I.e., changing the volume on RS520 through the buttons on the top of the RS520 changes the volume of my laptop and the speaker output (which is convenient but unexpected as I thought I will have 2 separate volume control, one on laptop and another on RS520).
My question is
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Why the volume settings between the old (A) and the new (B) set up are drastically different? Old (A) set up use volume about 90% setting on the laptop (90% laptop, 90% RS520 Preamp Out, 32-40 on Cambridge Audio Evo One) to match with the new set up (B) using only about 12 - 14%% on the laptop.
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Is the way RS520 volume control in the new set up (B) is normal behavior and an intended behavior of RS520?
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Would setting volume this way (i.e., set laptop volume at about 12 -14%) is the correct or optimum way? I always thought that setting volume input from a digital source is better to be at about 80-90% and then adjust the actual volume at the DAC/Amp level for best Signal to Noise ratio.
I was expecting to adjust the volume of may laptop as an “input” into RS520. I.e., I was preparing to keep the “digital” volume output from my laptop at 80-90% for better SNR optimization. And then use the volume control of RS520 to adjust the actual volume (like using DAC/Amp volume control).
Admittedly, the behavior of RS520 in the new set up (B) is much easier to use as controlling volume from laptop )in my case, I have volume knob controller for my laptop set up) is much easier than pressing the volume buttons on the RS520.
Thanks.