I don't have that combo, but with my Benchmark DAC1 + AKG K701 combo, I usually listen with the volume set at 9 O'Clock... 10 for softer tracks... and would never dream of 12 (unless I wanted immediate & permanent hearing loss).... You shouldn't have to turn the volume up that high with a quality headphone amp like the Graham Slee...

Quick question: Do you have the volume on your Squeezebox set to max? That's the only thing I can think of (other than a defective product) that could explain your problem...

The 701s require about 1/3 more gain than most cans. I run my Woo WA6 around 3 o'clock. If you're getting enough volume, I wouldn't worry about the attenuator setting. (You're correct to run all the digital volumes at 100%).

Dave

Have you ripped your tracks with Replay Gain and do you have it turned on in Squeezecenter settings? If so you may wish to turn it off and see if any improvement. I have never used it so cannot say it would make THAT much difference in volume but the thought did come to mind.

RG

Quote:
Nah - I dont mess with any digital smoke and mirrors, like replay gain. But thanks for the thought.

Little update for y'all: I actually called GSP (the company is based only a few miles from me afterall) and asked. Their engineering dude, John Cadman told me that this is perfectly normal with the K 701, given that, as dcstep pointed out, they are quite hard to drive.

So, if I want to go louder, I'm gonna have to get me some HD650s too. Which, to be fair was probably always going to happen, given my penchant for good old fashioned bad ass rock n roll.

Thanks to everyone who posted.

Cheers Ears,

Michael

So that means my Benchmark is a big powerful headphone amp? Cool

HB RG!