Toroid is a bit cheaper. FWIU, noise suppression and dc filtering are automatically eliminated by the isolation transformers. I.e. DC and high frequency signal does not pass through the toroidal coils. Decware has a bit fancier enclosure. Otherwise they appear similar.
I believe balanced power uses two toroids to pass the wall power magnetically, there is no direct line connection to filter. There is no room for balanced isolation in the QSA. Discrete filtering is more limited than a balanced PS, it can take care of some problems...
That's really strange! Isn't 2V the standard output voltage for DACs? I know there are no options to change the output voltage on my Bifrost 2.
Thanks for that data point - could prove helpful.
2V is pretty much standard but I don't suspect you'll hear any clipping unless you crank the quicksilvers volume pot up. You're more likely to just lose a little more of the top range of the volume pot with 2 volts versus 1.5 volts. The output voltage of the source is usually peak anyway. Music is dynamic, the source isn't going to output 2 volts constantly. I have 2 DAC's going into the Quicksilver. I'm using a Schiit audio SYS to switch between dacs and it has a volume control so I can turn down there if need be (which would effectively limit the output voltage of the DAC's) but I never do. I leave it wide open. One DAC outputs about 1.8V and the other 2V and I don't hear any clipping or distortion with either. If it sounds good, it is good. I wouldn't worry about it.
Nor on my Yggy, nor any other dac I’ve owned. Yes, 2V is the standard. Seems to me that the amp manufacturer should build to that standard. Much as I like the QS sound since I got it properly tubed, I’ve always disliked the excessive gain.
You can always pick up something like the Schiit Audio SYS. It's a passive box ("preamp") allowing for either 2 inputs to 1 output or 1 input to 2 outputs (volume all the way up, you lose volume control if you configure it like this). It has a volume pot which would effectively allow you to lower the voltage hitting the QS. It's also relatively inexpensive ($50). I've used the same DAC's straight in to the QS (and other amps) and through the SYS and the SYS is transparent to my ears. YMMV of course.
Extra boxes and cables go against the grain of my KISS approach to hi-fi. But perhaps I should try one, not exactly a big $ investment.
2V is definitely the industry standard and many DACs don't have the option of adjusting the output voltage, therefore I'm really surprised to hear 2V is too hot for the QS. I've been feeding mine with the full 2.4V output of my Liberty DAC ll with no problems whatsoever, so i don't get it.
