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Low gain dac!

I am contemplating buying a new dac, the dac I have today has 4.3v output on both balanced and RCA, which makes me only use a small turn on the volume knob on my pre amp, which is a high gain design, volume starts at 6 o’clock and too loud at 8-9!
Any input is appreciated, ladde dac’s or more conventional dac’s doesn’t matter, both designs have my interest.
My system:
Primare Dac30
Supratek Cabernet pre
Belles SA 30 power amp
Graham Audio LS 5/9

Thanks!
gryphongryph
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Essentially the attenuators are resistors that will decrease sound pressure levels.  They come in various values i.e. 4, 6,10 db of reduction even higher values are available . @gryphongryp the Supratek seems to provide a lot of positive attributes in your system. No wonder you want to retain it. Just curious if you've tried a passive in your system for comparison?  
Charles 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
What value db attenuators are you trying?
Charles 
marlin38's avatar
marlin38
21 posts
 
If you can find a Muse Two DAC, they're nicely built PCM63-based R2R designs and only have 1.0v output.  They sound nice!
speakermaster
738 posts
 
Another option would be to try a passive preamplifier because 4.3volts is more than enough gain to drive almost any amplifier into clipping and it will more than likely sound better than your current preamplifier.
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
speakermaster
4.3volts is more than enough

Already tried to tell him that, will all the specs posted, (can’t see the forest for the trees) "tube addiction" his poweramp amp only needs 0.7v!!!!!!!!!!! in for full output


Went on EBay and bought 1 pair of each (Harrison Labs and Rothwell) looking forward to try them out.
The amount of gain reduction you’ll need to get with these Rothewell’s, either placed between source and Supratek or between Supratek and amp, are also going to give you impedance matching problems, in the process.

Cheers George
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