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

Showing 1 response by joeycastillo

The answer for me, it depends on the system synergy and the Voltage drive of the pre-amp to power-amp. Using my LTA preamp, when connected to the XA-25 driving the Falcon Gold Badge, it's normally at 50%, but when I have the X150.5 with a voltage driver pre, that sets the volume to 40%. 

BUT I have never noticed the sound getting "thin" as the volume setting is increased. To me it EVERYTHING gets louder until my ears cannot take it anymore.

As expected, if the recording is bad (for all the wrong reasons) YMMV.

but a good recording, be it streaming or Vinyl, the settings above is my DeFacto standard,

sometimes, I would pop it up another 20 to 30 DB to just my blood pressure up :)