I’ve been an audiohalic since I was 18. Thru those years most products are set at the factory and not adjustable, or default set and not messed with. Fast forward into modern tech, streamers and dacs, users are presented with a plethora of software options that affect usability and/or sound.
Many Rose and Eversolo products are more computer disguised as audio components. All user adjustable options have a default and this is usually were I stay. Usually.
The RD160 DAC has a really nice feature that allows users to configure XLR/RCA output voltage which provides for compatiblity integration with other devices which are usually fixed with input voltage requirements.
It’s important to match RD160 output voltage with input voltage of the component connected. Usually not something I pay attention to or have ever needed to.
Here is what happened to me and I blame myself, not Rose. It is not an issue persay, but setting the output voltage incorrectly will impact sound quality tremendously.
The RD160 output voltage “defaults” to Variable Output which means the dac is pre-configured to preamp mode. Most end users, IMHO, will not use the RD160 dac as a preamp, personal assumption. Therefore one of the first setting that needs to be changed is what voltage to use. The RD160 is rich with output voltage options.
I purchased my RD160 March 2026. Set the voltage, stupidly, to the first option XLR 2v, as I recall, and did not realize how significant this option had on sound quality. I know, I’m an idiot and am posting this to help others avoid what happened to me. I’ve owned many dacs and had 2 others in the mix when I got the RD160. Out of the box and quickly into service. Then break-in begins.
Fast forward. The past year I have upgraded everything except my amps. My main speakers are now Magnepan 3.7x’s and Perlisten S7t’s; both purchased just after the RD160. The purchase order ment I did not have a benchmark for sound before RD160 purchase. I did own Maggie 3.7i’s and upgraded to 3.7x’s so I knew what the x’s should sound like and power needs. All cables were changed to ViaBlue during this time also.
From the moment I got the RD160, I set and forgot the output voltage to 1st option, 2volts as I recall. Did not think it thru and forgot about it. The Magnepans and Perlistens played, weak, power hungry like nothing I’ve ever owned. Sounded good but no bass, no volume, thin, anemic. I changed to older cables, preamps, power amps, messed with this, that, and the other. Nothing sounded right. I was at the end of my rope to the point of getting rid of everything! Totally pissed and frustrated beyond comprehension. Never thought the RD160 was the issue.
This Saturday, 4 1/2 months later, I hosted a cookout with our audio group. After eating, we all retired to do a listening session and see what the group thought. I explained my fustration and concerns. All clearly thought something was, off, way off. We changed a few components out, same results. About half thru I stood up and stated “that’s it, these new Magnepan 3.7x’s, ViaBlue cables are out of here!”. I texted my dealer and said I need speaker options.
My previous favorite dac’s, many, were Gustards, I’m a fan, and have a new R30 coming today which was purchased to try and get body, texture, blah blah, back. All group members had left except my Bro-In-Law. He stated that my Gustards had a much bigger everything and that it’s fixed output voltage was 5v, he asked what voltage is the RD160 fixed at?
A light bulb went off in my head! OMGoodness, wonder what I “willy nilly” set that to? We set the output voltage to 5v for XLR and I’ll be darned, everything, everything, immediately came to life. Body, texture, blah blah, was back in spades. Depth dimension dripped from my system. I was in shock. After many months I was finally hearing in glory all my upgrades.
I was ready to scrap everthing! I was literally a day or 2 from letting two fantasic speakers go, changing cables, and rethinking my Audio Research preamps. I never suspected the dac to be the issue. One little option in a dac blew my entire listening experience out the door for many months and almost cost me a boat load.
You alls are saying by now, what an idiot. In my defense, I have had little to no exposure in this type of setting and could not leave it “defaulted” to Variable. I have never purchased a component having to think thru output / input voltage requirements. Slam me all you want as I do feel like an idiot now also.
So, long story short. Rose I recommend that the output voltage NOT “default” to Variable, but something higher than 2v. Blast me all you want but this option is not something a lot of thought is put into when buying and installing new gear. At least for me.
Tanks for reading to this point.
