Ayon Audio CD-5 versus CD-5s

Dear All,

I'm the owner of a Ayon CD5 since a few years now and recently a friend of mine told me that the sound was more detailed with the Ayon CD5 directly connected to the power amps (Solid State Class A) than through my preamp Joule Electra LA 150 SE. I sadly agreed with him without understanding, as the Joule is a really great preamp. Strangely I don't have the same when using the Joule with my Cary CAD 211 AE power amps (tube amps). So I guess something is wrong somewhere.
Joule preamp has a hight output impedance (400 or 1200 Ohms switchable) with input impedance 15000 Ohms (RCA), CD5 has a 300 Ohms output impedance and my solid state power amps is around 20KOhms(RCA). Carys are around 50 KOhms (RCA)and 100 KOHms (XLR)
Could this explain a lower level of details with my solid state amps ?

I also would like to understand something about gain setting and with the CD5 : let's say I select the 6V output, does it mean that when I set up the Ayon CD5 volume at its max (0) I will get 6V output, and if I set it up to -30 (50%) I'll get a 3V output ?

Thanks in advance :-)

Hi Melkior,, I would pm a member name melbguy1, He can better explain everything to you, thou, I do know how to solve your problem!, This member knows more about Ayon than eanybody I know!, tell him I sent you!, He will help!,,, cheers!

Thanks a lot :-)

I have had some exchange by mail with Gerhard from Ayon, he explained me a few things.
I have a ground noise problem because of impedance matching between CD5, preamp, amps etc..Nothing to see with the CD5 (excepted it's more sensitive to its neighbours on the shelves).

Concerning the volume more or less the gain position gives the max voltage output when playing with the volume. So I'll set it to 4V and put the volume around -30 / - 20 in order to get 2,5V like other players and see what happen.