I have to admit, I am finding the discussion of gain and volume to be pretty funny. I guess it's because I am old and grew up with records, FM tuners, and tape decks that all put out different voltages. There is NO optimal gain for an amplifier because there are too many variables in people's systems. Anyone believing that the CD standard of 2.0 v changes that is not considering that our sources still vary greatly depending on how the producer recorded it. Youtube has dramatic differences in volume level between different videos for instance.
Trying to get the maximum output of a DAC to match perfectly with the input sensitivity of an amplifier is not necessary nor possible in most scenarios unless the user is actually doing the matching themselves for their specific installation. How much gain do you lose in EQ? That depends on your system so unless we are mandated specific speakers connected to specific amplifiers with specific EQ we don't know.
Most volume/level/gain controls are potentiometers. They are simply attenuating the input signal not changing the gain of the amplifier. You can create a volume control that also changes the amount of feedback in a circuit and that could actually be considered a gain control. 95% of this is just semantics though. I find the gain of the PA5 perfect for my use, connected to my PC via a MOTU M4. The gain of the Aiyima was too high and when the DAC was set to output close to full output the volume control on the Aiyima was nearly zero and it was too loud. Clearly, John Yang was thinking of people driving the PA5 with a simple balanced DAC and in this use, I find it perfect.
Once again, a purchase was made based on Amir's testing and I have another winner. I couldn't be happier.
Trying to get the maximum output of a DAC to match perfectly with the input sensitivity of an amplifier is not necessary nor possible in most scenarios unless the user is actually doing the matching themselves for their specific installation. How much gain do you lose in EQ? That depends on your system so unless we are mandated specific speakers connected to specific amplifiers with specific EQ we don't know.
Most volume/level/gain controls are potentiometers. They are simply attenuating the input signal not changing the gain of the amplifier. You can create a volume control that also changes the amount of feedback in a circuit and that could actually be considered a gain control. 95% of this is just semantics though. I find the gain of the PA5 perfect for my use, connected to my PC via a MOTU M4. The gain of the Aiyima was too high and when the DAC was set to output close to full output the volume control on the Aiyima was nearly zero and it was too loud. Clearly, John Yang was thinking of people driving the PA5 with a simple balanced DAC and in this use, I find it perfect.
Once again, a purchase was made based on Amir's testing and I have another winner. I couldn't be happier.