I'm currently playing around with being entirely preamp-less by running a Topping DX3 Pro (v2) in "preamp" mode direct into my Yamaha MX-1 power amplifier.
The input sensitivity of the MX-1 is 1.46V 20k Ohms. The DX3 Pro can easily drive the amp into clipping it seems like considering the 2V output it provides. Currently with this setup I tend to have to run the DX3 Pro at between -45 and -32 db on the digital volume control.
However, the MX-1 has input level controls per channel on the back. Yamaha states that the preference is to run them all the way at the maximum, but I'm wondering if I should trim them down a bit so that the DX3 Pro is operating more between -20 and -5 db on its volume control? Is there any benefit on either end (the DAC or the AMP) to reducing the amp's input sensitivity?
As a complete aside, I was previously running a D50s in the system, and it had some clear benefits that I don't quite understand.
#1 it sounded better than the DX3 Pro. Like the noise floor was lower or something. At quieter volumes everything was clearer on the D50s, and at louder volumes the D50s was less "fatiguing".
#2 the DX3 Pro sends a pop to my amp/speakers when it goes into standby, which concerns me, so I just leave it on 100% of the time to avoid this. The D50s didn't exhibit this behavior.
I moved the D50s back to headphone duty because its screen is way too small to read the volume numbers from several feet away on the couch and it was driving my wife nuts not to have a quick understandable visual indicator, and the DX3 Pro's volume level display is nice and big and clear. So, the DX3 Pro had to go into the main system.
The input sensitivity of the MX-1 is 1.46V 20k Ohms. The DX3 Pro can easily drive the amp into clipping it seems like considering the 2V output it provides. Currently with this setup I tend to have to run the DX3 Pro at between -45 and -32 db on the digital volume control.
However, the MX-1 has input level controls per channel on the back. Yamaha states that the preference is to run them all the way at the maximum, but I'm wondering if I should trim them down a bit so that the DX3 Pro is operating more between -20 and -5 db on its volume control? Is there any benefit on either end (the DAC or the AMP) to reducing the amp's input sensitivity?
As a complete aside, I was previously running a D50s in the system, and it had some clear benefits that I don't quite understand.
#1 it sounded better than the DX3 Pro. Like the noise floor was lower or something. At quieter volumes everything was clearer on the D50s, and at louder volumes the D50s was less "fatiguing".
#2 the DX3 Pro sends a pop to my amp/speakers when it goes into standby, which concerns me, so I just leave it on 100% of the time to avoid this. The D50s didn't exhibit this behavior.
I moved the D50s back to headphone duty because its screen is way too small to read the volume numbers from several feet away on the couch and it was driving my wife nuts not to have a quick understandable visual indicator, and the DX3 Pro's volume level display is nice and big and clear. So, the DX3 Pro had to go into the main system.