Heh... well... I don't know how I can make it more clear
Yes, as you said, the ENTIRE system volume (Windows) does indeed go 'up & down' like you said, or as I said it was 'engaged' With the SMSL set to Wasapi Exclusive
NO OTHER volume controls other than the player itself were active, engaged, 'up & down', whatever...
So, basically what I am saying is that with the SMSL I did get complete exclusivity and bit-perfect playback (the way I understand it) With the Topping, I do not seem to be able to set it the same way BECAUSE all the other Windows volumes (or I should say at least the master volume, that YES, controls the whole system) is still engaged, still affects the volume in a variable way, which SUGGESTS to me that it is indeed not bit-perfect like the SMSL was before.
Better...?
And yes, you may be quite right, I might not be able to set the MusicBee with the Topping like I was with the SMSL, so I may have to try another player. FWIW, I DID try Foobar with the Wasapi Exclusive driver chosen, and it did the exact same thing. The Windows master volume was still active.
Could just be a limitation of the DAC, IDK...