best place for volume controls? DAC or analog?

[soldersober]

So this question could also go to the digital line level forum, but anyway

Many ready made DAC boards available now (ES90x8 and others) have built in "software" volume control. Is this the preferred spot for attenuation? Or, say, AVC/TVC in front of pre amp would have any benefits?

I have to say I have no idea how digital attenuation works, so I take the easy way asking here

Thanks!

 

[Mooly]

Have a watch at this from RMAF11:
YouTube

 

[soldersober]

Thanks, very informative. Kind of reminds of some digital artifacts in photography too