• Registered: 2023-10-09
  • Posts: 2

Topic: RME adi-2 dac fs connected to power amp with variable gain

Hi everyone.
I am a happy owner of the RME adi-2 dac. It is connected to an integrated Densen B110 which has been powering my klipsch forte. However sometime soon, I am going to pull the trigger and replace my amp with a class d power amp Purify ET400. The class D amplifier allows me to choose a high or a med gain but also to bypass the input buffer totally. Is this my best option? Is the output voltage of the RME enough? Shall the amplifier be heated excessively? Is there any other potential risk? And what are the RME optimal settings in case of a zero gain choise? I have read controversial opinions regarding whether Reference volume should be set to auto or not.
Thank you in advance.

2 Reply by KaiS (edited by KaiS 2023-10-09 13:10:22)

  • KaiS
  • DAW Mastermind
  • Offline
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2020-02-05
  • Posts: 3,525

Re: RME adi-2 dac fs connected to power amp with variable gain

We already had this several times, e.g. here:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 83#p204683
and here:
https://forum.rme-audio.de/viewtopic.ph … 51#p181251


Conclusion – for best results, lowest noise and highest dynamic range:

• Use the lowest gain possible at the power amp side.
ADI-2 DAC has enough voltage output to still drive the amp to full power.

• Switch on “Auto Ref Level”, so ADI-2 can take care of best usage of the DAC chip’s full dynamic range.

KaiS's Website

  • Registered: 2023-10-09
  • Posts: 2

Re: RME adi-2 dac fs connected to power amp with variable gain

Thank you very much indeed