That helps. Thanks a lot. Will try running from computer-->dac-->receiver the RCA out to headphone amp. I'm a bit confused about the "direct"/"pure direct" settings but it seems those don't actually process the signal so it should end up sounding exactly as it does directly from the dac.  ...

Ah sorry. I'm the worst at this. I'm actually using HD650s which are within that range but I really like the headphone amp that's running them and would like to keep it in the chain.    My goal would be to have this all linked to the receiver so I could switch from headphones to speakers...

Thanks for the help - but I'm afraid I'm missing something (or haven't given full information.)   Currently I'm going computer-->Bifrost-->Headphone Amp-->Headphones and changing it all out in the - somewhat rare - event I want to listen to music on my speakers. Are you suggesting I could...

I'm sort of new to this so apologies in advance if this question is insane.   Traditionally I've had a fairly cheap receiver but wanting to play around a bit with digital hifi I purchased a Schiit Bifrost and ran audio to it directly from my computer via an optical cable. I recently came...

I did a bunch of searches on this and this seems to be the proper place to post the question? Apologies if that's wrong.   So I currently have two different sources (DAC and phono preamp) that I want to send both to my headphone amp and to my receiver. I was going to pick up a TCC 716...

Okay. Problem solved. I had EQ on in iTunes. That's brutally embarrassing but there it is anyway. Hopefully someone in the future can learn form this at least?

Quote:   + I ran through a bunch of stuff in testing this. Everything from v0 44.1 KHz stuff to supposedly lossless 24-bit rips. The problems persisted through all of it I'm afraid       Totally get this but I'm afraid I'm trying to manage the digital catalog from a laptop...

Really appreciate all of these response but I'm afraid I may have ineloquently described my original problem and created some confusion. My issue is not that I don't like the sound but rather it all sounds distorted and clipped (and not in the audiophile appreciation way... rather it sounds like...

This is a winding - and probably totally ignorant - question but I can't seem to find the answer I'm looking for through search.    I've traditionally had a hifi analog setup (turntable --> preamp --> bottlehead crack headphone amp --> hd650) which has been an absolute blast and I figured I...