As file resolution goes up sound level goes down?

Is the symptom that (a)you can't get enough volume with the volume control turned all the way up, or (b)that you encounter clipping and/or distortion on musical peaks with the hi rez material, at volume control settings that are below maximum?

If the latter, increasing the gain will not help, assuming (as is likely) that what is running out of headroom is the amplifier. The exact same problem would occur, at the same perceived volume level, except that you would reach that point at a lower setting of the control.

Regards,
-- Al

I suspect that Swanny's diagnosis is correct. Material that is not as dynamically compressed will have a lower average volume, assuming that peak volume is similar.

You can confirm that by using an audio editing program, such as the free program Audacity, to examine and analyze the sound waveforms of the respective files.

I suspect that what is limiting the dynamic range that can be handled by your system is the combination of a relatively low powered amp and inefficient speakers. If so, increasing the gains, sensitivities, or output levels of upstream components will not help, but changing to more efficient speakers would, of course.

Also, it appears that the 86 db sensitivity of your speakers is specified with respect to 2.83 volts, rather than 1 watt. 2.83 volts corresponds to 1 watt into 8 ohms, but to 2 watts into 4 ohms. Given the speaker's 4 ohm nominal impedance, its efficiency is therefore only 83 db for a 1 watt input, at a 1 meter distance.

Regards,
-- Al

Hmm, that sounds like even though you are not clipping the amp to a degree that is clearly perceptible as such, it still may be running out of steam, perhaps as a result of degraded linearity as it approaches its maximum power capability, and/or as it reaches the point of "soft clipping" that tube amps are noted for. So I'm still not certain that a gain increase would be a solution.

Regards,
-- Al

Thanks for the additional info, Kenny. I suspect that the harshness at 5:30 is the linearity degradation and/or soft clipping that I referred to, corresponding to the amp approaching or reaching the limits of its power capability. If so, along the lines of my earlier comment a gain increase would not help. It would result in the same thing happening, at the same perceived volume, but at a lower setting of the control.

Regards,
-- Al