2. home-theater
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Theater Pass Through wtih EMM DCC2

Plan on acquiring DCC2 Preamp/DAC. Is anyone using a home theater bypass with their DCC2?

It is my understanding that connecting the analog balanced outs (front L & R only, of course) from my surround processor to the analog balanced ins on the DCC2, then setting the DCC2 volume control to 99 (the highest), will achieve unity gain on the DCC2 and allow me to use volume control on the surround processor. I would then run analog balanced outs from the DCC2 to my amplifier.

The alternative is to leave the surround processor alone and continue to run its analog balanced outs to my amplifier and also connect single ended outs from the DCC2 to the amplifier, then use the toggle switch on the amplifier to select between the balanced versus single ended inputs.

Looking for thoughts from the collective as to preferred method of connection, based on previous experience and, of course, sound quality.
rmaidenberg

Showing 4 responses by cincy_bob

cincy_bob
270 posts
 
I believe that, if you wire the DCC2 in the manner you are suggesting and turn the volume all the way up to 99, you will be running your signal through the preamp gain stage of the DCC2 and applying maximum gain, which will result in 8dB of gain.
cincy_bob
270 posts
 
My recollection is that the maximum gain offered by the preamp stage of the DCC2 is either 8dB or 9dB. If you use the outputs from the DCC2 labeled "Analog Preamp Output" that are controlled by the DCC2's volume control, you are running the signal through the analog preamp stage. A volume of 99 would apply the full gain available from the DCC2's preamp.

It just occurred to me, though, that there are two additional sets of outputs (one RCA, one XLR) on the DCC2 labeled "Analog Line Output" that, I believe, bypass the analog preamp. I suspect you can use those outputs to achieve unity gain for the signal from your home theatre processor. I believe the output signal from these outputs is at a fixed level not at all affected by the DCC2's volume control, so the volume setting should be irrelevant.
cincy_bob
270 posts
 
Rmaidenberg, I suppose the approach you suggested would work, and, if your home theatre processor allow you to preset the output levels to that low a level, I think your approach would be safer than the direction I was headed.
cincy_bob
270 posts
 
Rmaidenberg, I am intrigued to hear about your findings. A volume setting of 99 on the DCC2 will apply maximum gain to the signal at the variable output jacks. If your dealer is saying that maximum gain equals unity gain, then what I think he are saying is that the preamp in the DCC2 is a passive preamp (i.e., it is strictly a volume attenuator that is not capable of providing any active gain of its own).
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