Accuphase dac 60

Yeah , all I can think of & don’t see that marked anywhere. Imagine me, not really ever messing with dacs except the ps audio I have had for about 18 years jumping to a $2,000 dac 60 card and noticing that. I am still a little shocked. 

RE:Gain. It is very common to have different gain settings between two devices from different manufacturer. I don’t understand what is the issue here? So what if you have to increase volume by 15-16db, it shouldn’t matter as long as you are not pushing amp to its limits.

As I suggested in my first post, allow DAC60 to settle in before you form any opinion. Going by my experience, you are bound to have different take on DAC60 after two weeks of continuous run-in. 

I’ll try, but actually like 3/4 volume on the amp now to jam out a little bit. The ps audio just sounds full, tight bass, the midrange, treble and everything are better from low listening level to higher listening levels. The dac 60 sounds so dull and boring at normal lower listening levels. Trust me, I’m trying to love it for $2,000, I really am. I never expected what I am hearing.

@duketbrd88

if you need to turn the volume of your accuphase integrated to 2-3 o’clock in its rotation, something is very wrong -- no way the dac card is designed to have to run the analog pre/amp section at that level to achieve a suitable volume driving real world speakers in normal sized rooms

what component is supplying your digital input into the dac-60 card now installed? is it the same component being used to feed the ps audio d link dac?

or you have been sent a defective card - or - something is wrong with the insert slot connection ...

@jjss49 

everything is the same. The sources are the same. I can get them both pretty close in sound, well volume wise turning the accuphase up, like 12db higher on the volume. It’s more of a difference for me from low to moderate listening levels, is where there is the biggest difference. Just has no body or oomph at lower normal levels.

I honestly don’t think there is anything wrong with the integrated or the dac 60 card. It installed like butter and everything works fine. Could not get any easier installing it. I looked everything over, didn’t touch anything with my bare hands and went in without a hitch. 

I do believe it is at least just a gain issue between the two dacs. The Dac 60 just sounds kind of boring and lifeless at lower listening levels, especially the bass in the B&W 804S drivers and the rel T7x sub. That is the biggest difference the more I listen and switch back and forth between the two dacs. Dac 60 seems lifeless in the bass department. The only way to match that is to push the comp button on the front, which gives it that boost in bass or as some described it as a old fashioned loudness button.

when a track is playing and it’s loud enough, it sounds good, maybe even a little smoother and a bit more musical then the ps audio, but not $2,000 better at all. 
 

nothing changed throughout the process except the dac 60 card and switching the optical and coaxial cables from one to the other. The ps audio is still in its spot and plugged in.