Thanks Torq. per the DAC, I’ve never had one and so i didn’t know if using the USB connection to the DAC would be like a Line-Out connection where there was no volume control from the source and so all volume control would be at the amp. Like i said, no experience at all with external DACs and nobody i know personally is into audio. right now i have everything on my PC turned up to 100% so i know the output level and then work from there at the amp but i also have to work around this weirdness at 9:30 on the amp’s pot. the right channel is only there about 40% until 9:30/10 and then everything is fine but that is in the middle of my listening level. i think i will return this one. thanks for your consideration and response.