Question about amplifier input sensitivity


I'd like to use my Wadia di122 DAC as a preamp and I've been looking for amps that have an input sensitivity > 2 volts - which is what Wadia recommends.  Their actual quote in the manual is this: "...due to a wide range of power amplifier designs, it is important the input sensitivity of the amplifier be at least 2 volts.  This will assure the playback of of most music recordings are reproduced with adequate dynamic range."   

I've researched about ten amps and they all range from 1 - 1.5 volts.  The only two amps I found that were at least 2 volts were Mark Levinsons which are way out of my price range.

Is this a recommendation that I really need to follow?  Are they suggesting that there won't be enough gain from "lesser" amps?  The only other relative specs I have for the Wadia, per the manual, are a variable output level of 0.0-4.0 Vrms for the unbalanced outputs and 0.0-8.0 for the balanced outputs.  I'm not sure this matters, but the output impedance is less than 100 ohms for both balanced and unbalanced sections.

Is something I really need to worry about when looking for an amp?  FWIW, I was looking at a PrimaLuna Prologue Four which has an input sensitivity of just 600 mVrms!  

Thanks in advance for any help or advice on this subject.  


chuke076


(Going direct to amp like this is the most transparent/dynamic sound you’ll get)

Their actual quote in the manual is this: "...due to a wide range of power amplifier designs, it is important the input sensitivity of the amplifier be at least 2 volts. This will assure the playback of of most music recordings are reproduced with adequate dynamic range."

Now to your question.
This is because the volume control is done in the digital domain, and "if" below say 75% of full there’s the risk of what’s called "Bit Stripping", this is a lowering of the resolution and dynamics from 16bit to 14 bit to 12bit the lower on the volume you go.

Wadia, Mark Levinson Bricasti and others, in some of their higher end models have a gain adjustment switching inside on the analog output buffer usually with pins about 6 different settings so you could set this to your "system gain", so then be able to use the digital volume control at or above 75%.
https://ibb.co/n3XTmq9

If you don’t have this and have to turn down the volume on the Wadia below 75%. Then you better off leaving it up full and using a passive preamp.

Cheers George
Thanks for that!  I read a review in Hi-Fi Choice that says "The volume adjustment is by upsampling the incoming signal and then shedding superfluous information rather than via the cruder bit reduction method."

Same essential thing right?  Or better the way Wadia is doing it?
All I can say is have a look in your user manual for an adjustable absolute maximum output voltage setting like in the link I posted, it could even be programmable via the remote these days.
If none and your digital volume is down quite a bit for normal level you could be bit stripping, leave to volume up full and get a passive preamp.

Cheers George
Thanks again.  Yeah, nothing in the manual about adjusting the output voltage.  I appreciate the link.