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
According to the DCC2 manual, which can be downloaded from www.emmlabs.com, the other analog line outputs to which you make reference are used solely when using the DCC2 as a DAC only and connecting the DCC2 to another preamp. The manual states in bold font that these analog outputs should not be connected directly to an amplifier.

If the gain offered by the DCC2 at maximum (i.e., 99) volume is, e.g., 8dB, would it make sense to either preset the volume on the DCC2 at a lower setting to achieve a lesser gain? Or, in the alternative, would it make sense to keep the DCC2 at the maximum setting and then, on the surround processor, program the output levels of the L & R to reduce the same by 8dB? If both are viable alternatives, is one considered the better alternative?
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.
Interesting, I had call EMM Labs for this question, was told by setting the volume at "88" will provide unity gain...
Well, my dealer confirmed with both Ed Meitner and Greg (I think his last name is Soo) that 99 is the unity gain on the DCC2.

I will be connecting mine tomorrow and will post my findings.
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).