BlueSound Node 2i > RME ADI2 DAC > NAD 316 BEE v2 > Dali Rubicon 5 (volume too high)

@oddiofyl im a bit confused. So you’re suggesting that I disable the Auto Ref Output? If so what should be the ref output -15db? Also, what should be the volume? Should I lock the volume at 0 dB? Sorry if I’m asking silly questions. Thanks

@prashanth13485
What is your NAD? An integrated or an amp only that has left right potentiometers on the front like an NAD 2600A I once owned? I’m using a separate preamp and amp and have the output on both my Bluesound Vault 2 and RME set to fixed output and only using the pot on my preamp. If your NAD is an amp only and something similar to what I had then turn the gain down on the amp. It’s possible your speakers are efficient enough your amp is more than big enough to drive your speakers. I have very inefficient speakers but with my large amp and the size of my room I get about 9:00 as well and it’s plenty loud... will it play louder? Yes but I want to keep my hearing into old age so I respect them and actually play my system at lower levels as it has become more refined. 

You mentioned your Dali’s are power hungry so without knowing what your NAD is, I’d pull the gain down on it, set gain on your Node to fix and use the volume on the RME. If you’re NAD is an integrated does it have amp input only to bypass the preamp section? Might help knowing what model your NAD is. Reason to make your RME the only device with volume and the others fix as I’d bet it’s the better by a good margin over the NAD and I know it is over the Bluesound as I own one myself.

I think I posted a link on RME’s site on how to go into the menu to adjust the gain out put. Also make sure you don’t have the Loudness function on the RME on. See page 21, 36, 37 and 63 of the manual on line output settings. Hope that helps.

@adg101 thanks again for the detailed response. Guess what, I had the entry level NAD 316 bee v2 that I have returned. And I’m not considering a big upgrade on my amplifier.  Likely going to settle with either musical fidelity M6si or the marantz pm ki ruby.  Right now I am testing the m5si and I’m very pleasantly surprised. Heard that it can be bright and forward sounding but I think it’s fairly warm.

anyway, I have my node on fixed output. On the rme, there are two settings and I think I’m getting confused: volume lock basically locks the volume I have set. Question is what should be the volume on the rme if I want to use the integrated to control the volume? Should be 0 dB?

second setting is a the reference level. I have this on auto. Should I disable auto? If so, what should be the reference level? It starts from -5 and goes to +13 in 6db increments.  
Am I missing something? Thanks again for taking the time to help. I really appreciate it. 

Yes, you are correct on adjusting reference level first and if you prefer your MF primarily to adjust the volume then lock the volume on the RME. I’m running balance so I’m at +1db which has the same output as my other devices. I’d just play around with the reference levels and find the one that works best... you might step it down one for awhile to hear how it works out and if you think you need more gain then bump it up one setting.

@adj101 awesome, I think I get it now. Gonna play around with it and settle for what sounds best to me. Thanks