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Do Audiophiles usually keep the gain of the digital source at around 80%?

My setup is:

A8 Eversolor DAC and streamer

McIntosh C12000 preamp

REL sub 810

Focal Sopra n1 speakers. 

861 Moon amp

I keep my McIntosh preamp usually between 50-60% volume. Any higher would make the sound thin like.

For the Eversolo streamer (which I am enjoying quite a bit for the money), I keep between 75% -85% max gain. With older songs that are recorded at lower volume, I have it at 85%. But with songs that are recorded louders (mostly newer songs) it would cause some/slight clipping at that level so I to have lower the gain to about 75% max gain.  

I saw that there was a max volume throughput option on the Eversolo, but when I try that I can’t really get the system as loud as I want it without clipping and distortion setting in early. 

Is this normal for Audiophiles to keep the gain on the digital signal about 80%?

Wasn’t sure if this should go into digital forums or preamps since both are used here, so I posted here. 

 

dman777
steakster
2,016 posts
 

OP:   You might want to revisit my previous post.   According to these Eversolo 8 specifications - the XLR output is 4.2 volts.  The RCA output is 2.1 volts.       

Hans says this difference in voltage may cause clipping,  Cue up Hans’ video here - 8 min. 43 sec - 9 min. 29 sec.   This is why RCA might be better than XLR for this particular issue.   

If using the RCA output remedies up the clipping issue, set the digital volume at 100% - as everybody suggests. 

devinplombier
835 posts
 

Good thing the senile dutchman revealed to Audiophiles that doubling the input voltage could cause clipping. Who wudda thunk?

mark200mph
440 posts
 

My wavelet 2 a preamp dsp recommends to keep it below 85% and maybe that's the way the engineer designed it.legacy audio valor.yes experiment with your system find what sounds best to you.enjoy the science.

panzrwagn's avatar
panzrwagn
651 posts
 

Y'all need to learn gainstaging. And if any of your gear has a bit-stripping digital volume control, take it out back and put it out of its misery.

saugertiesbob
44 posts
 

your post is confusing. I own the eversolo DMPA6 and Mac gear as well as a Lumin P1 - which can also be used as a Pre Dac. 

 

The Eversolo can be used as a pre amp with a volume control and can be hooked up directly to an amplifier. Use the volume on the eversolo just like you would on any other pre amp. It can also be run into a pre amp that is attached to your amps. In this set up up you can either have the eversolo volume locked and set as "fixed" in which case you use your pre amp volume knob to control volume, or you can leave the eversolo volume as variable and you'd be able to change volume both on the eversolo and or the pre amp (no real purpose to having it set up this way though). There's no distortion with the eversolo or any DAC pre amp when used even up to 100%. All you'll notice is that your main volume setting on your preamp may be set a little lower than usual to make the same volume- again, with no distortion. 

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