Why so quiet?

[jimbob]

I have recently started using a fiio dac with my system and the volume has to be turned up quite a bit more to get the same volume output as I get without the dac in place. I play all my music through spotify and youtube on the ps4. The ps4 is connected to the tv via hdmi then optical out from the tv to the dac then ssc to my amp.

Without the dac I generally have the volume at between ten and twelve o'clock for most of my listening but with the dac its more like three o'clock to get the same volume output.

Why do I have to turn the volume up so much more?

[Fretless]

Lower output voltage from the Fiio ??

Sounds like a question for the tech squad.

[jimbob]

That's what I thought but if that's the case then that makes it almost useless for anything louder than moderate volume levels. I assume that having the pre turned up to 3 o'clock almost constantly isn't doing any damage to the power amps because its not like I'm playing overly loud.

[Fretless]

Strangely enough, the line output from my Fiio X3 is so powerful that the car stereo can't handle it, distorts terribly, and I have to use the headphone out at a moderate volume.

Which model Fiio is it Jimbob?

Edit: I see that the PS4 also has an optical out. Try hooking that up to the DAC and see if there is a difference - could be that the TV audio out is set to multichannel and not stereo.

[_D_S_J_R_]

Fiio's aren't totally different from the norm. I wonder if yours may be faulty, or has a built-in output level setting?

[jimbob]

Its the D03k cheap and cheerful one. Just tried it connected to the PS4 and it is still quieter. It is perfectly acceptable volume wise I just think its strange to have to turn it up so high.

[Fretless]

Googled the Fiio D03K and a couple of reviews mentioned that the volume was a bit on the quiet side. Furthermore it seems to be a good low-price device.