Hey guys - I've got a question about volume.
I've got this card with stock Opamps currently, and a pair of Audio Technica ATH-M50s. If I'm playing an average song at max volume on windows with the headphone amp on 0, what kind of decibels will I be reaching?
Is it based on the headphones, or does the card factor into it?
Will I be hitting the 100dB peak for the phones by running the card at full volume? (Note that I can't hear any distortion)
If not, what kind of dB will I be hitting?
And also if not, what would have to change for the headphones to hit 100dB?
When I turn the volume up or down on the PC, at what point is it playing the "true" sound of the music, and at what point do I start to loose the quieter bits? Is full PC volume the true sound being replicated, and is the sound being distorted slightly when the volume is reduced on the PC?
I also have a sort of related question - What exactly is the reason that sound distorts when you go over the "top" of the waveform?
I know they're basic questions - But I'm finding it hard to find a straight answer for any of them. I figured this thread would be a decent place to ask, since I guess it's relative to the sound card.