How to set multiple volume controls on a PC

[i_love_buxtehude]

Hello all,

I liked the Polk Speakers so well, I bought a second pair for my Windows PC. But instead of another MSML AD18A, I bought the Aiyima A07 digital amp.
It is very basic, just a toggle on/off switch and a volume knob. It had a good review in AudioScienceReview.

This PC has a crappy sound card, so I bought a Sabrent USB audio device.
I use VLC Player to play my MP3 and flac music files. I set the volume on this to 100% reasoning that that should not introduce any distortion as it is software only.
The volume knob on the Aiyima amplifier is set at 20. This little amp has plenty of power.

The Polk XT15 speakers are on a computer desk and I sit 3.5 feet away.
Currently listening to Widor Organ Symphony No 3 and I have the PC volume, (Sabrent device) set at 30%. This produces a good sound level. Not too loud, not too low.

But is there a better way to set the three volume controls?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Friesiansam]

But is there a better way to set the three volume controls?

No, the Sabrent USB device will be detected by Windows as a single device, the speakers connected to it will not be detected.

 

[i_love_buxtehude]

No. The speakers are not connected to the Sabrent. They are passive speakers connected to the Aiyima digital amplifier.
My question is: should I set the PC volume higher, then correspondingly set the Aiyima volume knob lower, or should I set the PC (Sabrent) volume at a minimal level, say 10%, then set the Aiyima volume knob to my preferred sound level? I think the latter.
Maybe it doesn't matter unless I set the Sabrent volume to 80 or 90%. It is a cheap device, so I expect it to have distortion at the higher settings.
I am a retired computer technician. In the old days lots of my clients used Sound Blaster sound cards. They were loud, but had lots of distortion. Of course, my clients were using them for gaming, so didn't care.
Nowadays it seems the home theater crowd is similar. When I was shopping for a sub-woofer, one Yamaha product actually quoted THD as 10% at maximum volume.
Thanks for the reply

 

[ultraminiature]

My question is: should I set the PC volume higher, then correspondingly set the Aiyima volume knob lower, or should I set the PC (Sabrent) volume at a minimal level, say 10%,

I use VLC for audio and video playback. Normally I set the volume level at 100% and use the volume level on the software to the device I am using to lower the volume.

In my set up I have the onboard sound card (nothing attached). the speakers on the 65" 4K display panel, a Terratec external USB 5.1 sound card, CYP HDMI debedder from the graphics card into analogue active speakers and an Axiim Link WiSA transmitter to WiSA speakers (wireless). The computer sees each of these as computer sound systems but only one or the other, not together. With the surround set up I can also configure as multi-room or multi-channel. I recently mirgrated from older analogue active to newer WiSA speakers.

By my hearing I can't hear any difference between VLC or the device volume control levels. The WiSA speakers can have levels adjusted for each speaker but are well enough balanced that I have not needed to bother). Volume can also be controlled with a mobile phone app and that is linked to the volume on the PC device.

The active speakers have remote control for front and rear speakers but both centre and sub don't have a remote and are controlled from the computer (which can balance levels but then a single volume control for 6 speakers). I matched the speakers with the remote to balance with the speakers that don't and then use the analogue device sound control on the computer. It does mean I have three separate volume controls the playing software (VLC, 100%), PC output sound (HDMI extracted sound variable) and the remote on the speakers (45 of 64).

 

[Friesiansam]

I use VLC for audio and video playback. Normally I set the volume level at 100% and use the volume level on the software to the device I am using to lower the volume.

In my set up I have the onboard sound card (nothing attached). the speakers on the 65" 4K display panel, a Terratec external USB 5.1 sound card, CYP HDMI debedder from the graphics card into analogue active speakers and an Axiim Link WiSA transmitter to WiSA speakers (wireless). The computer sees each of these as computer sound systems but only one or the other, not together. With the surround set up I can also configure as multi-room or multi-channel. I recently mirgrated from older analogue active to newer WiSA speakers.

By my hearing I can't hear any difference between VLC or the device volume control levels. The WiSA speakers can have levels adjusted for each speaker but are well enough balanced that I have not needed to bother). Volume can also be controlled with a mobile phone app and that is linked to the volume on the PC device.

The active speakers have remote control for front and rear speakers but both centre and sub don't have a remote and are controlled from the computer (which can balance levels but then a single volume control for 6 speakers). I matched the speakers with the remote to balance with the speakers that don't and then use the analogue device sound control on the computer. It does mean I have three separate volume controls the playing software (VLC, 100%), PC output sound (HDMI extracted sound variable) and the remote on the speakers (45 of 64).

You’re 2 1/2 years late with that…