Editing Introduction to a Self Managed Life: a 13 hour & 28 minute presentation by FUTO software (section)

==== Preamp? Why the hell would I pay for a fancy volume knob when my mouse wheel and VLC let me do that for free? ====

When you lower the audio signal volume in VLC, you’re not attenuating an analog signal. Attenuating an analog signal takes the same audio you had and just shrinks the waveform.

When you lower the volume using VLC and then amplifying that, you’re lowering the volume digitally. 16 bit audio has 96 dB of dynamic range, 24 bit audio has 144. If you lower the volume digitally too much, it will start to sound like you are actually losing bits of audio. Even digital preamps usually use a ''digital signal'' to control '''analog amplification &amp; attenuation.'''

A great example of this would be to hook a digital to analog converter with no volume control/attenuation knob up to your computer, and plug it '''straight''' into a power amp. This would be full volume all the time. Then, lower the volume in VLC. This will sound different than lowering the volume on an analog preamp, because you’re not lowering the signal, you’re throwing away digital data.

'''If you think paying extra for a preamp is stupid, just buy a stereo receiver. You get a good enough preamp along with a good enough DAC &amp; amp and it costs around the same or less than just a preamp from “audiophile” brands.'''

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