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
I am not a technical person. When I was in email with Mick at Supratek, I told him about my system and sent him a picture of the speck of the amp, he told me they were ideal for each other!!
But still, my system sounds really great, that is not the problem, only more volume control is wished for 😜
If OP wants a new DAC, there are plenty of great ones to choose from. With a high gain pre and an amp with only .74V input sensitivity almost any DAC is going to need severe attenuation. So even a new DAC may not solve the entire problem. Rather than getting rid of a pre the OP obviously  likes, my suggestion was to try additional attenuation between the DAC and the pre. If inline attenuators have impedance issues, an inexpensive passive may be more compatible with the additional advantage of both a wider range and finer graduations of adjustment.

As far as alternate DACs are concerned, if you look at ones with variable output be sure to check how the volume is adjusted. There can be drawbacks with each method depending on the execution, especially at very low volume settings. For fixed output DACs the lowest I know of is 1V for the Chord Qutest. It’s adjustable at startup (1, 2, or 3V). I run mine higher but use a pre with unity gain.
But still, my system sounds really great, that is not the problem, only more volume control is wished for 😜
Ok then get an amp that is 2v input sensitivity not .7v 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ Or get rid of the high gain Supratek!
To clarify, my Supratek is a dual design, was buying a Cabernet with 6SN7 output, but then Mick has designed a dual with 6SN7 and 300B output, on the 300B output I can adjust gain, but unfortunately I like the 6SN7 better for most music, unfortunately Mick never told me that variable gain was only on the 300B output, if so I would probably have asked for the 6SN7 to be variable, nevertheless I am happy with my pre, I have never heard my system as good as this and having heard many far more expensive system on my travels I feel good with the sound quality, I will also experiment with other tubes, especially 300B tubes.
Some dac’s that have interested me are AudioMirror, Doge, Musical Paradise, and the ladder dac’s that have been coming to market the last years.
I guess I am on a journey to get my system to sound as analog as possible while using digital source...
You sent him a  picture of a speck .. 
😉
Thanks for making my morning a smiling one 😄