Gain setting on Purifi power amplifier for WiiM Pro Plus

[Musician]

Hey guys,

I am switching from a WiiM Amp to a WiiM Pro Plus with Apollon 1ET400A Purifi power amplifier. My speakers are Elac FS 409.2 with 89db sensitivity.

The power amplifier comes with switchable gain settings: 12,8/20,5/27,5/29,0db.

Does anybody have a clue what might be the correct gain setting for the WiiM Pro Plus and for my speakers?

Thanks
Michael

I use a WiiM pro to a Rega dac R and use the WiiM as a digital preamp.
I have done a buffer modification with my Audiophonics 125 ncore power amp, lowering the gain 13 dB , to about 12 dB . It was a slight sound improvement.

When using WiiM pro as a digital preamp with volume control to an external dac you will loose digital resolution If the power amp gain is to high because you have to play music at below 50% volume most of the time.

Because of the fact that you can change gain easily on your poweramp, I would use the gain setting that sounds the best, but start with the 12,8 dB

 

[layer9]

I’ve followed the advice and gone with the lowest setting (12.8db). This way volume is usually between 50 and 75% and I still have enough headroom in case I want to listen louder. Very satisfied!

 

[layer9]

Since a few old and rather silent mastered songs were not loud enough I now switched from 12.8db to 20.5db. While of course everything is louder now I also have the impression that there is an improvement in dynamics too, even at the same volume levels like before. But I guess that technically can not be the case right? Maybe I am rather interpreting the louder soundstage as more dynamic one and only think that volume is the same like before.