Some of them:
The 20dB attenuator.
Use RCA instead of XLR to attenuate by 6dB (works in some systems and not others)
Using inline attenuators in your interconnects.
Using a quality transformer to raise or lower the level.
(Only for experts: change the attenuation resistors in the DS (or merely remove 2 or 4 of the 6 per channel))
The DS’s digital volume control doesn’t loose any resolution as you turn the volume down.
Ok. I don’t have problems with too much gain at all. I guess I’m ok?
If you don’t have problems with too much noise and you can get the system as loud as you want you are fine.
Cool. Thanks. If anything, I could use a little more gain on really quiet recordings
Definitely! Those who can play a DAC directly to the amps in a satisfying way IMO are lucky to save some money for the moment, but I’m sure as soon as they hear it over a really good pre, they can’t ever go back. In my case it’s extreme because the DS‘ output is also a bit low in volume for my setup. The pre improves sound dramatically, not only in dynamics, energy and impact, but also in palpable imaging and soundstaging and much more. It’s a day and night drop dead difference…but it’s possible to use the DAC directly. Except for the little low output of the DS, this difference was similar with other digital gear.
I can sum up from my perspective,
Try a DS Senior or DS Junior DAC in your system for 30 days.
If you don’t like it, return it.
I can’t, I am in Canada. JR isn’t available anymore. DS too expensive.
So…confused. Lotsa Juniors available on the aftermarket for cheap, especially after the recent DSS feeding frenzy.
If you can’t afford any DS DACs, I don’t understand the interest in the measurements of them.
First off, my financial situation isn’t your concern, just been laid off lately so thanks for the low blow! Secondly, I cannot try JR for 30days and return in the used market, and I cannot do that with DS either as I am in Canada… I was in the market and was between PS Audio and Chord, and had a hard time auditioning them back to back, tried at Axpona but then it was one room to another room, not possible.
Generally for me, I like JR better, not only due to better budget, but I like the volume control as I can’t use the display on DSS, if DSS was that much better could save for it, or get it in used market. I am interested in the measurements because I am an engineer, and measurements make an engineer, and need to know WHY such a highly regarded product may measure with such noise.
Even if I couldn’t afford one, I am an enthusiast, met Ted and Paul at Axpona and am a big PS Audio fan. Actually made it to Axpona for the first time mostly because of PS Audio… so thanks for attacking me for my engagement! Cheers!
Re: your first and last lines…utterly not intended in any way. It was not a blow of any kind, rather a question/suggestion. Now that I understand your situation, I apologize.
No worries, thanks for apology! I understand why my questions may cause for curiosity.
I had a look on HiFi Shark. There is only one DSD Jnr on sale in the whole of Europe, in the Netherlands, it’s 2 years old and the asking price is €2,700, almost $3,000 or £2,500. Considering the £4,000 retail price of the DSD Jnr was the same as the Chord TT2, to name but one option, I would be amazed if many sold over here. There are plenty of DSD Snr’s available, so it probably sold quite well. The TT2 is up with the Snr and measures much better, but who cares about measurements?
There are no used GCD’s available in Europe.
There first problem here is that the Chord Hugo2 is only marginally more expensive, and is probably their most popular product. It also offers a lot more, being a portable 8x DSD FPGA DAC, aimed mainly at the headphone market. (Plus the most read UK hifi mag voted it their 2018 product of the year.)
The GCD is also more expensive than the Cambridge Audio 851N streamer/DAC/pre-amp, a very highly rated product. Cambridge Audio is also the own brand of Richer Sounds, the UK’s only multiple audio retailer and a very popular outlet, so their products have very high exposure. Cambridge Audio have a pedigree going back 50 years and is top quality budget audio.
So the DSD Jnr and GCD may be fine products, but they haven’t much chance in the UK market, or probably much of Europe, where other PS Audio products seem to do quite well. Just an example of the difficulty in recommending products in different territories.
Steve…take a pill.
If abieklou is UK-based, then…apologies again. I don’t keep track of all of this. Otherwise, no idea what you’re going on about. I was only able to get your Harbeths for half-ish price by your benificence.
I also don’t have a preamplifier and I control active loudspeakers directly from DSD. I recently assembled a buffer on an OPA1632 symmetrical operational amplifier. In this system, resistors can be set to any gain. I set 14 dB, DSD has the attenuator on, and the typical volume level is 75 - 95. This link significantly improved the SQ.
Get your facts strait !
" Marconi did not attend school as a child and did not go on to formal higher education.[16][17][18] Instead, he learned chemistry, math, and physics at home from a series of private tutors hired by his parents. His family hired additional tutors for Guglielmo in the winter when they would leave Bologna for the warmer climate of Tuscany or Florence.[18] Marconi noted an important mentor was professor Vincenzo Rosa, a high school physics teacher in Livorno.[19][17] Rosa taught the 17-year-old Marconi the basics of physical phenomena as well as new theories on electricity. At the age of 18 and back in Bologna, Marconi became acquainted with University of Bologna physicist Augusto Righi, who had done research on Heinrich Hertz’s work. Righi permitted Marconi to attend lectures at the university and also to use the University’s laboratory and library.[20]"
WIKIPEDIA must be wrong !
TESLA
“Born and raised in the Austrian Empire, Tesla studied engineering and physics in the 1870s without receiving a degree, and gained practical experience in the early 1880s working in telephony and at Continental Edison in the new electric power industry. He emigrated in 1884 to the United States, where he would become a naturalized citizen. He worked for a short time at the Edison Machine Works in New York City before he struck out on his own.:”
Wikipedia…
Don’t go public and show your lack of knowledge Keep it to your self !
Trust your Ears!
Perhaps a smiley might be required here. Unless it was meant seriously.
It’s the usual subjectivists vs measurement groups digging their heels 
in. No-one changes so all threads discussing performance via trust your ears/eyes sound vs measurements & sound eventually arrive at this juncture.
I’m confused by this thread…
If said equipment Sounds Fantastic, but, its measurement(s) do not match…
Would you buy 2nd to the Best sounding equipment, only because its specs are more impressive?
Why?
Maybe a Participation 
should be given for trying …
I dont have anything more to add to this thread. I am surprised that the mods and let it go on. Its a witch hunt and we have a lot of that going on these days .
Subjectivity or objectivity … Who comes on a manufactures site and proceeds to try and denounce their products… They do make more than one color cars now for a reason !
These same people will argue that a tweeter that Measures to 50k are better as the bats can tell you so !
Trust “Your” ears !
If I’m not having any problems driving the active crossover/amp directly, am I missing anything by not using a preamp?
