Even though I assume my info here in this post would not be fully satisfactory for your concern,,,
You would please look at
my latest system configuration with DAC8PRO. Here, I past only one diagram from
that post.
View attachment 217839
With in my upstream Windows PC, I use JRiver MC's volume control as "Master Volume Controller" for which I usually set volume/gain protection of max. 85 % (-7.5 dB) during my daily music listening sessions.
I always set the main input gain at -4 dB in software digital DSP (XO/EQ) "EKIO", and the OCTO DAC8PRO's preamp gain is always set at -4 dB.
One of the unique features of my setup is utilization of four HiFi "integrated amplifiers",
i.e. each of them has its own volume/gain controller. Last week
in this post, I pointed again about the pros of using "integrated amplifiers" in our active multichannel systems.
My active L&R sub-woofers also have own built-in amplifiers and volume/gain controllers.
Of course, during the procedures of Windows Update and other major OS maintenance and JRiver/EKIO upgrade, I set all of the volume/gain controllers at sound-off (minus infinity dB) positions.
Also please note that I use "EKIO" as OS-system-wide DSP (XO/EQ) center (which can be mute-off or shutdown any time if I like), and I feel this is better in terms of "safety concern" than using JRiver's (or Roon's) built-in DSP(XO/EQ) functionalities.
As you can see in
my latest system setup, I have been using protection capacitors in SP high level signals going into my treasure Beryllium Squawkers, Beryllium Tweeters and metal horn Super-Tweeters.
Furthermore, all of you may agree that we should be very careful enough in our
"Shutdown Sequences" and
"Ignition (Start-Up) Sequences" of our multichannel setup so that we should avoid/minimize any possible pop damage to our gears including DACs, amplifiers and SP drivers. Just for your reference, therefore, you would please find my post;
- Startup (ignition) sequences and shutdown sequences of multichannel multi-amplifier system: #426
With these
self-defensive measures and careful operations, I never experienced "destructive high-gain incident" in my multichannel multi-driver multi-way multi-amplifier stereo audio system using DAC8PRO.