Hey I am just now getting into audiophile quality equipment and bought the Merlin and Gremlin to run my Hifiman Edition XVs, but while listening at max gain on the gremlin the heaphones sound about 70% of the volume I listen to with my old setup, which had the application volume at 5% of what I am using to get the gremlin to sound that loud. Could I have possibly set up something wrong? Did I buy the wrong hardware? Does anyone have any advice? Oh and I am using the usb input with 100% volume on both the OS and the application. Thanks for any advice you can offer!
Set the Merlin to 100% volume (as preamp) or configurate the Merlin as DAC only (= set to max vol in general). You can set the volume of the Merlin in the asio-driver control panel.
With windows driver: win+i (settings) > system > sound > output > Merlin > maxVol.
Install the ApoEqualizer to set of the children protection and using the gain function.
The Hifiman Ananda Stealth Magnet V3 runs with 70% volume on my Gremlin as the Gremlin has no gain function.
What is your" alternative application with volume at 5%"?
Wich cable or adapter you use for the Headphone?
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What amp did you use previously? Also curious which Output on the Gremlin you are using (XLR or 4.4)? The sensitivity of the Edition XV seems like it would have plenty of gain with the Gremlin. It would also help to know what applications you are using for music playback.
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The output volume is at 100% but I will check the control panel settings when I get home. The application I was talking about was youtube music at around 5-10% volume. With my previous amp it was loud enough that I could feel the music but not very distracting. With the gremlin turned all the way up and the windows volume set to 100% it sounds like a similar volume. I am just missing the punch of being able to turn it up. I am using a Youkamoo 4.4mm cable for the headphones, since it seemed like a good value balanced cable.
I am using the 4.4mm out and playing music primarily through youtube music, but steam games and streaming are at a similar volume level. My old setup was using a SMSL SU-1 and a DOUK U10. Both DACs have used the usb connection.
Keep care the plugger fits in with a “klick” as the Gremlin needs same force to push the plugger in completly.
The Gremlin specs are more capable as the Douk U10.
I tested the Hifiman Ananda Stealth Magnet V3 with music.youtube.com annahstasia sunday - live at Couches and Satisfy me - Vevo DSCVR.
With normal loudness the Gremlin is @45% (Topping DX1 II @75% and cayin RU3 @65%).
Kiwi Ears Septet on Gremlin is @40% (Topping DX1 II @70% and cayin RU3 @45%).
KZ PRX on Gremlin is @40% (Topping DX1 II @70% and cayin RU3 @50%).
Tangzu Versa Fudu2 on Gremlin is @20% (Topping DX1 II @50% and cayin RU3 @25%)
The Gremlin should have no problem driving your Hifman.
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I appreciate the thoroughness of your testing. I was hoping time would fix this, and while I have adjusted to the volume, I am keeping everything at maximum. I checked plugging the merlin into the douk and heard the volume being the same as it was with my old dac. This means that the problem must be one of 5 things (unless im forgetting something):
- The XLR cables between the merlin and the gremlin, these are just some cheap ones i got on amazon, so questionable quality, but i doubt they have enough resistance to be this noticable.
- The gremlin’s power supply, I checked that the connection is secure and even gave it a good amount of force ensuring it is fully plugged in, but if the gremlin is being underpowered it is possible that voltage is not being amplified amcorrectly.
- The gremlin itself, but I doubt this given the build quality and lack of any other apparent defects.
- The balanced headphone cable, for similar reasons to the xlr cables.
- Or what is almost always the correct answer, human error, the two amps sound noticeably different and it is very possible that the douk boosts frequencies that I am more sensitive to.
Ill check everything with a multimeter sometime soon. Thank you for your help!
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