Int. Amp's input sensitivity and DAC's output


Hi,

I'm a little confused (concerned) about the match between my Cambridge Audio DACMagic and my integrated amp. The DACMagic's output is rated at 2.1V rms (unbalanced). My integrated's line input's sensitivity is rated >= 200mV and overload signal level rated >=2V. Now I'm concerned that the DAC is actually driving the pre-amp section of the integrated to overloading levels.

Is this a correct analogy or am I mistaken?

Comments appreciated.
livin_262002
You will be able to realize that it's clipping in the small signal domain when you play some dynamic music. If that's the case, you can get attenuators(normally resistors) with RCA plugs between DAC and preamp.
I believe it shouldn't if both components are RMS votage rated. The input sensitivity of 200mV means how 'quiet' your preamp can play and overload level 2V is the other way arround.
DAC manufacturers seem to all have a kind of arrogance that says you will never use anything but their DAC driving your power amps.

There is no idea that you might be using an integrated, or possibly a phono section as well.

On top of that there is usually a misunderstanding of how much voltage is needed to drive an amplifier to full output and what the consequences are, so they damn the torpedos and usually have way too much output. In this case, the DAC in question only has too much output rather than way too much :)

It should be the case though that the volume control will keep things in check, although I think you will find that you are always at the bottom of the control. The spec on your amp is written, BTW, so that if the control is all the way up, 200mV will be how much voltage will be needed at the input to drive the integrated to full output.
Thank you Atmasphere, well I'm using DK Design MKII, I'm using an external Phono Preamp. The thing that bothers me is the Overload signal level on the amp which is rated at 2V (or greater) and the DAC's output is rated at 2.1Vrms.
I would purchase attenuators with RCA plugs that would possibly increase ranges on your volume knob and dynanic headroom of the system.
They're available at partsexpress.com.