I understand it would for most, and is what I am doing currently. But this is audio science review and not Audio "it'll do" Review. I'm trying to figure out why a spotify stream digitally overloads a DAC from a Mac/iOS machine and not a Windows one. I would ask the question on the spotify forum but really, has anyone seen those forums? They're a shambles.
I also understand this. But I am talking about the input level to the DAC i.e. pre-FX, not post-FX, being overloaded. No volume level at the DAC is going to stop the source from overdriving the signal, just like an analogue preamp with an overloaded input. I am using the ADI 2 DAC direct to a power amplifier.
I am not upset or really bothered by the fact it's happening as there is no audible distortion - most likely due to 'digital headroom' inside the RME's input. I am just trying to understand why it is happening and possibly avoid it, and would it be causing clipping on the outgoing analogue signal, audible or not. In a perfect world, I would set spotifys volume to 100%, and use the DACs volume control. But seeing as Spotifys volume at 100% appears to be more like 101-105%, why would one want that? 100% should be just touching the digital 'ceiling', should it not?
P.S. the "bit-test" files worked perfectly when played from the iMac to the RME DAC, be it from the 'Music' app or played from inside 'Spotify'. I am getting the overloads from streamed songs, only on an iMac/iOS device.