My system is very simple: Nucleus → Novafidelity X45 → Meridian M20 active speakers. Whereas a volume setting of 55 was previously comfortable, I now need to crank up to 75 to get similar sound. Not sure why/when the volume baseline reset itself. Any ideas on recalibrating my volume control?
3 Areas to investigate:
Nucleus; is Roon appling any DSP / Volume Leveling. Upload a screenshot of the Roon Signal Path, so we can see if anything is changing the digital stream.
Novafidelity X45; I’m not failure with this device, but I can see it has a screen etc. Are the any output analogue attenuation options.
Meridian M20; Unlikely that both speaker have the same fault, but worth check the drop is SPL is the same on both speakers.
Troubleshooting steps; Power everything off, wait a 60 seconds power up the DAC, the speakers and then the Nucleus. It may / may not help but it’s quick and simple and at least gives a baseline.
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Please be careful about using these types of responses since they still spit out incorrect material.
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The Nucleus does not have “firmware” in the same sense. And just downloading a BIOS update is not the way to go. Verifying that the latest version of Roon is installed as some merit, but, usually the Nucleus auto-updates to the latest version anyway.
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The Signal Path will show what is happening in terms of processing but it does not directly call out or display how any of those steps currently impact volume.
Many thanks to those who have taken the trouble to help. At some time I have applied ‘volume levelling’. Having removed it, the sound is back to ‘normal’. I must say, without ‘volume levelling’ the sound is so much more expansive and detailed - it may be a psychological effect of it simply being louder, but I’m not so sure!
It’s an established fact that louder is nearly always perceived as better. This is even true if the volume difference is too small to be consciously recognized as a volume difference. (E.g., 0.2 dB louder registers in the human perception as better but not louder). This is why it makes zero sense to debate quality without calibrating volume precisely.
Apart from this, specific hardware may work better at certain pot settings or whatever.
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