BlueSound Node 2i > RME ADI2 DAC > NAD 316 BEE v2 > Dali Rubicon 5 (volume too high)

I have volume out on my RME set to fix, and all the tone control, EQ and etc. turned off. I’m running mine as a straight out DAC.

Thanks for responding. At what level have you locked the volume in the RME? Or am I looking at the wrong setting? 

There is a fixed setting in the Node2i as well.

@prashanth13485If you’re not using a separate preamp then you want to keep volume control active or on. I read through your post too quick and missed you’re feeding it to an amp directly. Since you are bypassing the DAC in your Node and going digital out, hopefully coax and not the toslink, the output is already fix so you don’t need to worry about that on the Node.
RME has several videos you might want to watch. Here’s one on the volume control.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rAGTPPPShWQ

Probably need to go into output level settings and make adjustments. This video should help you.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=enZD40j-kjI

@adg101 thanks again for taking the time to respond in detail.  I use optical out on the node yet I am able to control the volume via node unless I choose Output level fixed. 
As for the RME, I have set it to -15db (fixed) and yet I can’t go past the 10 o clock position on my Nad. 
When you say leave the volume control on/active, do you mean on the node or rme?

Fixed on the Node2i.

Isn’t digital out on the streamer a fixed signal, meaning there’s no volume control? 

@adg101 - Not really, I am able to use the volume control on the node unless i selected volume output fixed. 

coz of this thread, I stumbled upon the differences between optical and coaxial cables.  it seems that unless I use a glass fiber optical cable, the SQ won't be as good as a decent coaxial.  Looks like that might be an opportunity to improve the overall performance of my system :)

I use a Nordost Silver Shadow between my Bluesound Vault 2 or Cambridge 851C to the RME. Great cable and they are still available new at a pretty decent discount. I’m very happy with it.

https://www.musicdirect.com/cables/nordost-silver-shadow-digital-cable-anordss10mr

I’ll have to check on my Vault 2 as I don’t recall ever messing with volume settings when going digital out but just figured it’s like a transport and the volume is fixed but maybe I did as it’s been awhile.

I also changed out the power cable on the Bluesound too and if you look at my system I have a picture of the cable I made from VH Audio. The PC made a nice improvement as well. Using the same type of PC on the power supply to the RME as well... again it improved things.

Just ordered a RME DAC to pair with my Vault 2i..... can't wait !  

@oddiofyl 
You will be surprised how much better the RME is over your Vault... it’s not even close but it’s only going to be as good as the cables you use. Right out the box the RME sounded great. 
RME claims changing the power supply will not make a difference but I contacted Teddy Pardo and they have sold their PS to RME owners and they state it does indeed improve things so I ordered.one and can’t wait to hear for myself. Will report my findings when it shows up.

Congratulations on your purchase as you’re buying a great little DAC. It’s a complex unit but I run min as a DAC only with everything set to fix so no volume, Eq, tone control, loudness, and etc. If you haven watched the videos on RME’s website for setup I would recommend that as well.

I'm currently using a NAD M51 which is pretty good , I'm on the fence whether to sell it.  I think I'm just going to keep it for the heart of a 2.1 system in my tv room in the near future

I started digesting the manual... this thing is incredible.  I mainly bought this for its feature set and its ability to apply crossfeed to my headphone amp.   I also bought it on the advice of several people in pro audio circles that had direct experience with RME dacs.

Hopefully it's not a lateral move, the NAD is a great sounding DAC, but its dated.  I love gadgets so this unit should keep me busy playing with all of its features.

Recently received my Teddy Pardo power supply for my RME and all I can say is WOW. RME claims changing out the PS that comes with the unit will add no benefit which is nonsense. I reached out to TP before ordering and they said they have sold their supplies to RME owners and it will indeed make a difference and indeed it did.

I do not find the RME to be bright but I would agree it is very transparent and would not fool anyone to have a tube output stage, but the Teddy Pardo has definitely warmed things up a bit. The RME already has great bass but now there’s more meat on the bones. I’d say the bottom end is digging a little deeper too.

PRaT is probably what I’m getting that the factory SPS didn’t deliver as the sound is definitely fuller and I will just say this thing boogies now. The Teddy is fast and punches with authority. With both the Teddy and the factory PS I have them plugged into my PS Audio P5 power regenerator so I wasn’t expecting much of a change but there is.

As mentioned earlier I never found the RME bright or clinical as some have noted. The RME is very transparent and I suppose if ones system is bright or thin sounding then the RME is not going to fix that. If one owns a RME and wants a fuller sound, more meat and maybe that’s what is warming things up, then consider the Teddy Pardo power supply. Adding the Teddy will take a great DAC and push it to the next level. 
The manual doesn’t really note much, as dah... it’s just a power supply. What is nice is they call out the fuse size and the mention there is a burn in time. I have very little time on my Teddy so I’m looking forward to hearing what is to come. From Israel to the US took about two weeks and was under $400. I appreciate RME has a lot of confidence in their product but to claim changing out the PS will not change or improve the sound is not accurate. Highly recommended.

I am really digging this DAC !!!   It is awesome.    

For the OP.    If the RME output is set to Auto Ref Output  I believe you are getting unity gain at 0.0 dB on the volume reading and not -15 dB that is on the output setting 

Check that it is set to disable and hopefully gain will be normal

@oddiofyl im a bit confused. So you’re suggesting that I disable the Auto Ref Output? If so what should be the ref output -15db? Also, what should be the volume? Should I lock the volume at 0 dB? Sorry if I’m asking silly questions. Thanks

@prashanth13485
What is your NAD? An integrated or an amp only that has left right potentiometers on the front like an NAD 2600A I once owned? I’m using a separate preamp and amp and have the output on both my Bluesound Vault 2 and RME set to fixed output and only using the pot on my preamp. If your NAD is an amp only and something similar to what I had then turn the gain down on the amp. It’s possible your speakers are efficient enough your amp is more than big enough to drive your speakers. I have very inefficient speakers but with my large amp and the size of my room I get about 9:00 as well and it’s plenty loud... will it play louder? Yes but I want to keep my hearing into old age so I respect them and actually play my system at lower levels as it has become more refined. 

You mentioned your Dali’s are power hungry so without knowing what your NAD is, I’d pull the gain down on it, set gain on your Node to fix and use the volume on the RME. If you’re NAD is an integrated does it have amp input only to bypass the preamp section? Might help knowing what model your NAD is. Reason to make your RME the only device with volume and the others fix as I’d bet it’s the better by a good margin over the NAD and I know it is over the Bluesound as I own one myself.

I think I posted a link on RME’s site on how to go into the menu to adjust the gain out put. Also make sure you don’t have the Loudness function on the RME on. See page 21, 36, 37 and 63 of the manual on line output settings. Hope that helps.

@adg101 thanks again for the detailed response. Guess what, I had the entry level NAD 316 bee v2 that I have returned. And I’m not considering a big upgrade on my amplifier.  Likely going to settle with either musical fidelity M6si or the marantz pm ki ruby.  Right now I am testing the m5si and I’m very pleasantly surprised. Heard that it can be bright and forward sounding but I think it’s fairly warm.

anyway, I have my node on fixed output. On the rme, there are two settings and I think I’m getting confused: volume lock basically locks the volume I have set. Question is what should be the volume on the rme if I want to use the integrated to control the volume? Should be 0 dB?

second setting is a the reference level. I have this on auto. Should I disable auto? If so, what should be the reference level? It starts from -5 and goes to +13 in 6db increments.  
Am I missing something? Thanks again for taking the time to help. I really appreciate it. 

Yes, you are correct on adjusting reference level first and if you prefer your MF primarily to adjust the volume then lock the volume on the RME. I’m running balance so I’m at +1db which has the same output as my other devices. I’d just play around with the reference levels and find the one that works best... you might step it down one for awhile to hear how it works out and if you think you need more gain then bump it up one setting.

@adj101 awesome, I think I get it now. Gonna play around with it and settle for what sounds best to me. Thanks

Yes disable Auto Ref and experiment with the 4 output values.  

How did you make out?