Topic: DC offset at line outputs

How much DC offset is considered as acceptable at audio line outputs between GND and signal and differential between hot and cold?

Happy Holidays!

2 (edited by KaiS 2023-12-24 18:28:18)

Re: DC offset at line outputs

This figure is not specified.


I found,
lowest to highest Ref. Level,
highest values found for each channel:


ADI-2/4 Pro SE:

XLR differential: 0.00004 to 0.00068 V
XLR hot or cold to GND: 0.00015 to 0.00038 V

Rear TRS to 1/2: 0.00013 to 0.00057 V
Rear TRS to 3/4: 0.0004 to 0.00375 V


ADI-2 Pro 1st Gen:

XLR differential: 0.00020 to 0.00081 V
XLR hot or cold to GND: 0.00025 to 0.00056 V

Rear TRS: 0.00016 to 0.00041 V


Using a typical DC coupled power amp with 32 dB gain / x40 amplification factor, most would stay below 0.030 V at the speaker.

My worst case 0.00375 V would result in 0.15 V DC, or 0.006 W DC Power into a 4 Ohm speaker.

Just as a reference: the resulting (theoretical) peak audio power when running music at this setting would be 19000 W!

Most power amps’ DC protections trigger somewhere around 2 V, and a significant no. of music files carry DC offset high enough to trigger such amps.

Re: DC offset at line outputs

Thank you Kai!

An owner of a China DAC published his measurement results in the ASR forum. In addition to my two ADI-2 PRO FS R I also operate a small China SMSL DAC with an old TV with two Neumann KH 120.

Based on the postings, I have now measured my inexpensive SMSL DAC and measured a maximum of 6.2 mV (XLR, signal to ground) and a maximum of 1.8 mV differential, max. 3.8 mV at RCA.

If I understand you correctly, would that still be within absolutely problem-free limits?

Re: DC offset at line outputs

bejoro wrote:

An owner of a China DAC published his measurement results in the ASR forum. In addition to my two ADI-2 PRO FS R I also operate a small China SMSL DAC with an old TV with two Neumann KH 120.

Based on the postings, I have now measured my inexpensive SMSL DAC and measured a maximum of 6.2 mV (XLR, signal to ground) and a maximum of 1.8 mV differential, max. 3.8 mV at RCA.

If I understand you correctly, would that still be within absolutely problem-free limits?

Typically, yes.
If no problem occurs there is non.

Professional equipment like the KH120 doesn’t care about DC at all.


Power amps, even those with DC servos, have their own temperature drifting DC offset, service manuals usually state to adjust to <50 mV, but in use, practically the value ends up significantly higher.

Re: DC offset at line outputs

Thank you, great info.
Have a nice Christmas Eve. :-)