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VITUS Ri-101 & NAIM uniti Nova no louder, WHAT AM I MISSING?

Greeting audio Gurus from the Left coast!

I Recently got a Naim Unity NOVA  (80 Wpc) 
realy realy love the sound and operation/ convenience of this heavy little gem! 

HOWEVER (of course) .. I find myself listening regularly at an average of  %50 on the volume dial!! and when I really get into some tunes I'm up near %70 ish!!! on the dial.. if i realy really get into it I think I am in danger of maxing it out and sound deterioration.  and loosing any headroom or reserve power.
 

SOOooo... wanting much more power, volume, headroom and reserve power, I found a good deal on a Vitus RI-101 integrated. (300 wpc @ 8ohm, 600 4ohm,  Class "A" up to 12 wpc) Good unit! 

Now with everything hooked up and configured correctly (I THINK), Sound is definantly  "better" BUT why am I still listening at the same 50% ish volume levels?  and still want to crank it up to the previous 60- 70% levels?? 

All level are about 60- 75 DB average on sound level app
and using HSU VTF sub @ low levels

The Vitus I think is in bypass (volume locked out @ 0.0 )
connected Via RCA's (no balanced xlr on the Naim)
I don't believe I am getting the full power of this amp, and missing "something" but i cant figure it out on my own,   
WHAT an I missing?

Thank you for any assistance! 
*like how I use PARAGRAPHS" heheh J/K*


 

128x128rolling18
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,448 posts
 

  What streaming service are you using?  Are you using an app on your phone or tablet/ iPad to operate the built in streamer?  The reason I ask, is my streamer is a Bluesound Node. I use Qobuz.  Thru the app on my phone, there is volume control.   I’m not familiar with the Niam , but is that a possibility? 

rolling18's avatar
rolling18 OP
23 posts
 

Hgeifman:
Hard to explain.. sory
I use the Naim DAC/ Streamer all in one unit as the control.. it does not let me adjust anything but the volume output (no numerical display) just relative knob.

The integrated amp has numerical volume display and set fixed mode to +4 out of +8 (vol control locked out)
Soo I dont gave the physical ability to do anything to the Naim source but turn it up.

rolling18's avatar
rolling18 OP
23 posts
 

Rocray,
The streaming service I'm using is mainly Spotify.. or my own Flac music files from a USB drive plugged in the Naim nova.

I control everything through the RF remote OR mainly use the Naim App (witch I like works great) it only allows volume/ Ballance output control. no adjustments for gain in or out or tone controls.

the volume control on the APP is same as the remote same at the dial in the unit 
no level difference betweenn any,

I hope I was able to articulate what I'm getting at audiphilespeak is new to me ...
 

hgeifman
2,224 posts
 

@rolling18, This is a guess so it is time to experiment.

I suggest you use the Naim as an integrated amp (remove Vitus amp) and disconnect the Vitus and see what happens to the volume control.

Does using the Naim as as integrated amp only make any volume control impact?

 

larryi
4,017 posts
 

If given a choice between setting volume via the amp or the streaming source, do it via the amp, with the streamer set at maximum volume.  This will ensure that the volume is not being set digitally by throwing away data.  As long as you can get to the highest volume levels you want, your volume control range and how high you have to turn the knob ia not an issue. 

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