KaiS, thanks again :-)
>>Sorry, I miscalculated the dBu, see correction above.
According to Yamaha’s specs @ 2.4 V you already run into 0.5% distortions.
13 dBu minus 3.5 dBr equals 9.5 dBu / 2.31 V, in theory.
Me: Nevermind, I knew it is a miscalculation, or could be a typo, I got your original meaning.
>>But then come the intersample peaks, which in fact raise the peak level by 3 dB to 12.5 dBu / 3.3 V.
This is well ABOVE Yamaha’s max input.
Nothing will break, but a lot of sound quality gets lost.
The golden rule for audio engineering is:
Have a good amount (say, 6 dB) of headroom with Solid State (read: non-tube) electronics for a better sound.
You don’t gain anything good trying to max out the level.
Me: Yes, this is exactly my concern, I will stay at +13dBu -4.5dBr (2.06V) with Auto Ref Volume Locked. (As stated in RME manual per HiFi setup)
>>Did you try to use Yamaha’s Digital Optical input?
This would circumvent the DA-AD conversion.
Me: For TV only.
AUX input without DSP solely for RME, Yamaha works as a power Amp in "direct mode" alone.
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P.S. Consulted Yamaha agent, the Input Trim is to add on minus output to the input of the built in ICEpower class D Amp module, it is the same as on their WXC-50 without Amp. That said, if the Pre-Amp input is use for some low level signal, Input Trim can compensate it to have a similar loudness as other inputs.
Pacifist, dumb, not stupid
Listen music out from a box which sounds
Reading words on paper/ screen