We have an amp that has only 23 db of gain. It works really well with ZU speakers too.
The problem you are having is classic- a DAC with too much output. I don't understand why DAC manufacturers do this- to me it seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of how power amplifiers work. There is not a power amp out there that needs more than 3 volts input, so why do you need 5 or 6V?
With that kind of output you have to attenuate the signal, either by passive control, digital volume control or something like the Rothwell attenuators. *All* of them rob the signal of musicality! With digital and passive controls, the higher you can run the control the better they sound (although for different reasons). So why force the user to turn things down so much??
Enough of my diatribe- you have gotten good advice from other posts here...
The problem you are having is classic- a DAC with too much output. I don't understand why DAC manufacturers do this- to me it seems like a fundamental misunderstanding of how power amplifiers work. There is not a power amp out there that needs more than 3 volts input, so why do you need 5 or 6V?
With that kind of output you have to attenuate the signal, either by passive control, digital volume control or something like the Rothwell attenuators. *All* of them rob the signal of musicality! With digital and passive controls, the higher you can run the control the better they sound (although for different reasons). So why force the user to turn things down so much??
Enough of my diatribe- you have gotten good advice from other posts here...