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Marantz PM Ki Ruby and RME ADI 2 (Am I crazy?)

Hey guys,
My setup is node 2i > rme adi 2 dac > pm ki ruby > dynaudio special 40s.

All this while I’ve been using the RME as a dac and the marantz as pre and power.

while browsing some random stuff, I realised that the rme could also be used as a pre and the marantz just as a power amp. 

And of course, I tried.  But am I crazy to think that my system sounds better? The soundstage has widened , better imaging and overall improved sonics. Is this even possible or just my mind playing tricks? 
Please help, I’m losing it!! Lol
prashanth13485
mofojo
2,301 posts
 
Assuming you can get the volume on the RME up to where you are not bit stripping it will be the least amount of any colorations possible. RME recommends running the DAC directly into power amp. 
prashanth13485 OP
51 posts
 
@mofojo sorry but can you please elaborate? I’m not very technical. I’ve left the reference volume on auto (-5db). The volume on the rme is around -25db to -40db. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks again for your help!
jasonbourne52's avatar
jasonbourne52
2,863 posts
 
IMO all streamers sound alike. Think of them as a selector box. No gain involved - so no coloration added. People that claim to hear differences are IMO just whistlin' Dixie - or trying to sell you something! 
yyzsantabarbara
4,878 posts
 
@jasonbourne Have you heard streaming that has a Fibre Optic cable? Preferably like the Lumin X1 or the new mega expensive Linn DAC which have Fibre Optic inputs on the DAC itself. Or what I use, the Sonore OpticaRendu with the stream coming straight out of a $299 Ubiquiti Network Switch Fibre output and going into the OpticalRendu which then outputs USB to my DAC?
mofojo
2,301 posts
 
“@mofojo sorry but can you please elaborate? I’m not very technical. I’ve left the reference volume on auto (-5db). The volume on the rme is around -25db to -40db. Am I doing something wrong? Thanks again for your help!”

The RME volume is digital. Once it gets down so far it starts to lose resolution or bits. Most content is 16 bit and I believe the RME is 32 bits so not sure how far down you would need to go for anything to be affected or if it would even be noticeable. I found the volume to be very transparent with no noticeable degradation.
 Try the loudness function as well. You can add bass and treble at low volume that gradually goes away as you turn it up. All configurable and pretty damn cool! 
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