TEAC VRDS 701 CD player distorted line out

[Barry_Sound]

Hello everyone, I have a Teac VRDS 701 CD player, which is awesome but has one quirk. The RCA out can be switched to variable and is adjustable from 0 to 100 volume. At 100, the signal arriving at the amplifier is distorted.

The TEAC can also be switched to "fixed 0db" (2 Vrms) or "fixed +6db" (4 Vrms) and the manual states "If the sound distorts, set this to FIXED 0dB". Can anyone explain the purpose of this implementation?

 

[Scytales]

I do not know what amplifier you have, but it may very well be that it is not the signal arriving at the amplifier input from the player output that is distorted, but the input of the amplifier that is pushed toward clipping by an input signal level higher than it can cope.

When fixed output level is chosen, setting the output level from 4 V RMS to 2 V RMS may help to avoid clipping the amplifier input in case distortion were noticeable.

Anyway, what is your workflow?

 

[Nutul]

I think that the +6dB (and that, IMHO also reflects the level 100 when set to variable...) is intended as a high(er) gain for those amps that may require a higher level on their inputs, but would - obviously - result in clipping / distortion on regular-gain amps..
I believe there's nothing wrong; just do not bring the volume to more than 94dB, that should guarantee you remain at max 2Vrms.
Nevertheless, I would prefer having it output at 0dB, since the volume is handled by a downstream preamp anyway, so why bother...

 

[Barry_Sound]

I do not know what amplifier you have, but it may very well be that it is not the signal arriving at the amplifier input from the player output that is distorted, but the input of the amplifier that is pushed toward clipping by an input signal level higher than it can cope.

Thanks, makes sense.

Anyway, what is your workflow?

TEAC VRDS to the line in on Audio Note Oto SE.

 

[Nutul]

Then you should be fine with output fixed at 0dB.