Best balanced input Level for XSP-1 ?

[soundstage]

Hi,

in a few days I will be owning the XSP-1  preamp.  It will be connected to the balanced output of my Audio GD NFB-27  Dac.  My Version of the NFB-27 (before 2014) only has a variable output that can deliver up to 10 Volts which is 4 Volts over the maximum input level of the XSP-1  as I am aware of....       And I don´t want to put to much power into the XPS-1 balanced input.

So my question is:  Should this input level be as high as possible to sound its best or is it no problem to keep it way lower for good sonics ?    And if the first one is the case then how can I determine the best position of the output level control without being able to measure the output   ?


Best regards,

[Gary Cook]

The simple answer is ~2 volts input per channel, there being 2 "channels", out of phase in a single balanced cable, which means ~4 volts in total. For stereo we usually use 2 balanced cables (ie; 4 "channels").

Cheers
Gary

[soundstage]

Hello Gary,

so when I turn the Volume up to approximately a third of the whole range it should be enough to get the best signal to the input of the XSP-1 without the danger to overpowering it ?


best regards,
Stefan

[Gary Cook]

Should be fine, I certainly wouldn't go over half. The XSP-1 volume should be around a quarter to a third for pretty decent sound output levels, not "wake the neighbours".

Cheers
Gary