Accuphase dac 60

@duketbrd88 

Thing with sources is that you need as much voltage is needed for your amp feeding your speakers in your room listening with your ears.
Regarding volume pot setting - you got it all wrong
I'm happiest when pot is near max.

Don't get fooled by the high voltage of the balanced outputs of the PS Audio DAC, more voltage leads to more Gain. That means that not only the music signal but the noise will be amplified as well. That's one of the reasons why accuphase choose to have lower voltage on their DAC and that's the reason why the DAC 60 sounds better your ears once you equalize the volume level. Don't worry if you turn the volume knob pass 12 oclock. The preamp of the accuphase is designed as signal attenuator which means you get more of the original signal as you go higher with the volume.

Lastly, this article will resolve many of your concerns 

https://www.diyaudio.com/archive/articles/160464-de-lite-amplifier-next-thread.html  

@celestial__sound 

I don’t know anything about pot settings or anything that technical. All I know is the ps audio is much different in sound. Way better bass, midrange and treble. Way louder, more forward like a 800 horsepower car vs a 300 horsepower car. That’s like the best I can describe it.

Would you have any ideas for a good dac around $1500 that would compare to the dac 60 card and be good with a bluesound node streamer, when I get one? 
 

I can get a dac 50 card from a guy (used) the previous version which is all they mention in my manual for $750. I would feel better spending that then $2,000 on the dac 60.

Just looking at options. I’m fine with the ps audio at the moment, to be honest.

@duketbrd88

I don’t know anything about pot settings or anything that technical. All I know is the ps audio is much different in sound. Way better bass, midrange and treble. Way louder, more forward like a 800 horsepower car vs a 300 horsepower car. That’s like the best I can describe it.

Would you have any ideas for a good dac around $1500 that would compare to the dac 60 card and be good with a bluesound node streamer, when I get one?

Keeping in mind your issue with DAC60 and Node consideration, I recommend looking at external DAC like Denafrips Pontus II. I think you will be much happier with a DAC like Pontus in the long run.

1) if you are planning to use a bluesound node’s digital out to feed a denafrips dac (such as a pontus), you should first read about the well known issues those dacs have properly receiving the bitstream feed from the nodes...

2) it seems from your repeated responses here, that you really seem to like ’loud’, can’t or won’t adjust down the abnormally high output voltage from the old psa d-link dac (2.75v rca, 5.5v xlr) to compare apples to apples... well, leaving aside the Bluesound Node compatibility issue mentioned above, i would predict you will think all the denafrips dacs are sickly and weak and uninvolving too (all denafrips dacs have output fixed at 2v @ rca, 4v at xlr) -- so your d-link is almost 30% louder!

so my advice is be careful what you wish for! 😂 -- you like ’loud’, you already have ’loud’, so stick to it, enjoy the music - few modern, 'better' dacs have the abnormally high fixed output voltage ps audio built into your d-link

@jjss49 

thanks, I don’t mind adjusting the volume. I just really didn’t see that big of difference for the money to justify it. Something just sounded off to me. I appreciate everyone’s input, trust me. This is all new to me and a learning curve. When I went from my Classé gear to the Accuphase, I was pleasantly surprised. I thought it would be that way also with the dac.

I haven’t messed with this stuff for 18 years. The e380 definitely woke up my B&W 804S speakers for sure and I am very happy with that.

I’m just never thought there was that much of a difference between dacs. Like I said, a big learning curve for me. I am glad there is a great group of guys here to help out.

Plenty of good DACs out there in your price range. For the sake of simplicity, as it sounds you are just getting started with digital & streaming, I recommend you buy a DAC with a streamer built in. Like LUMIN, or Cary DMS series, just an example