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CAL Alpha produces brutal gain

My system is made of Jolida 302  integrated tube amp , Thorens TD160 + Cambridge preamp and a tablet for simple MP3 background music.
About four speaker sets :AR,Vintage Jamo, Tannoy and Joseph audio.
I recently got a nice CAL Delta transport and Alpha tube DAC.
Everything works BUT , the output coming from the CAL DAC is aggressive. Cannot turn the volume knob over 8 o'clock. I am usually at 9-12 with all others.
The sound is compressed.
I have a very warm relaxed 3d listening set . The Alpha tube DAC seemed like a natural partner...

Anyone experienced such a thing ? 
Too much gain? 
Any idea? 
*Replaced the cables (rca and coax)
** Changed the input channels
*** Checked bias
**** What's next?????
Tnx
ehollander

Showing 2 responses by newbee

newbee
4,816 posts
 
Check out the tubes in the Alpha. Lots of times these tubes, when changed by prior owners, can have too high a gain, such as EI 12AX7's (no longer in production). I believe it is possible to use a 12AU7 or a 12at7, which have lower gain. I use new production Mullard 12AX7's (or JJ 12AX7's in mine. I preferred the Mullards. 

If you like their tone as is, then you can get an in-line attenuator which will reduce the gain but not change the tone.

Hope that helps a bit.
newbee
4,816 posts
 
FWIW, the 'in line attenuators'  I referred to are in fact resistors encapsulated into a 'plug' which you insert between the RCA cable and RCA output. Not as elegant or,  probably,  precise as  putting resistors into the Alpha, but a lot cheaper and easily reversible.
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