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DAC to preamp technical question

Curious as to what is happening in this situation : Using a Musical Fidelity M1 Clic as a DAC (has a volume control as well). Using the fixed rca outputs into a Balanced Audio Technology vk51 preamp into a pair of Hypex Nc400 monoblocks ,into a pair of Triangle celius 202 speakers . The issue is the volume gets loud very quickly and distorts at a lesser volume than i would like . When i use the rca variable volume outs and use the M1's remote at about half volume there is a much greater range on the bat and sounds better . This is my first dac into the newly aquired BAT pre . I have three more dacs coming next week as well . Is the issue the volt output from the fixed outs on the M1 clic ? 

128x128maplegrovemusic
mofimadness's avatar
mofimadness
4,982 posts
 
I found this when reading the specs of the M1:

Fixed outputs, not controlled by volume at 0dB (same source as main out)

Not sure what that means?  Maybe Al, (Almarg) or someone with more tech knowledge than me can interpret this.  But, I would assume the fixed output has way too high of a gain for the BAT.
maplegrovemusic's avatar
maplegrovemusic OP
1,113 posts
 
Want to add that using the fixed outs of the M1clic with less sensitive speakers sounds great . King Sound electrostats and Magnepam MMG . Using both speakers the sweet spot for the volume is around 50 out of the 100 on the digital display for the BAT . Can go louder as well without distortion . So in a nutshell is the high sensitivity speakers the cause ? and is there a solution besides using a different pre ? Possibly different amps with the triangles ?
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 


Your better of driving your Hypex Nc400 direct from the variable output of the M1. As it’s output stage has better low output impedance drivability than the Bat has, you’ll also loose some of that excess gain doing so as well, and gain more transparency.

Musical Fidelity M1 Measured:                                                                                                                           The impedance from the variable jacks was 47 ohms at high and middle frequencies, rising to 76 ohms at 20Hz.

Bat VK51 Measured Test:                                                                                                                                Output impedance was twice that specified, at 410 ohms over most of the audioband. This is low, though it did rise to a high 4.7k ohms at 20Hz, due to the size of the output coupling capacitors.This will not be an issue with components having high input impedances, such as BAT’s own power amplifiers, but it does mean prematurely rolled-off low frequencies with low load impedances.


Cheers George




  

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