The McCormack DNA-1 does have a pretty high gain but still a sweet sound. Even its little brother the DNA.5 Deluxe that is really musical has a gain of 29dB.
At one time I had a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe, with a McCormack TLC-1 Deluxe preamp with signals being fed to it from a McCormack DAC-1 and an Oppo BDP 83 as a transport. Speakers were a rebuilt pair of KEF 104/2s that have a 92 dB efficiency. The room they were in was on the small side and the sound would get really loud with volume a little past the 9 o'clock position. The soundstage was great and the sound was crisp though.
I agree with some of the posts on top. You may have to modify or change your preamp to one that has lesser gain or your source to one that has a lesser gain or warmer sound. I say keep the DNA-1 but I have a heavy bias toward McCormack gear.
At one time I had a McCormack DNA-1 Deluxe, with a McCormack TLC-1 Deluxe preamp with signals being fed to it from a McCormack DAC-1 and an Oppo BDP 83 as a transport. Speakers were a rebuilt pair of KEF 104/2s that have a 92 dB efficiency. The room they were in was on the small side and the sound would get really loud with volume a little past the 9 o'clock position. The soundstage was great and the sound was crisp though.
I agree with some of the posts on top. You may have to modify or change your preamp to one that has lesser gain or your source to one that has a lesser gain or warmer sound. I say keep the DNA-1 but I have a heavy bias toward McCormack gear.