Optimizing Listening Experience Guide: Recommended Pairings for DIAGRAMMaudio® Open Baffle Loudspeakers

This guide provides recommendations based on our expert evaluation and listening sessions. DIAGRAMMaudio® is not affiliated with, nor endorsed by, the third-party amplifier brands or chip manufacturers mentioned herein.

Our Open Baffle systems are exceptionally transparent instruments. They don’t just play music; they mirror the character of your entire signal chain. To help you "cook" the perfect sound, we have gathered these recommendations based on our corporate philosophy and extensive listening sessions. Of course, this is merely a starting point.

I. Digital-to-Analog Converters (DACs)

Our speakers will clearly reveal the character of your source. We categorize the most popular delta-sigma DAC architectures into three main flavors:

• ESS Sabre (The Surgical Precision): Known for ultra-detailed resolution and micro-detail. However, in our high-sensitivity systems, Sabre can sometimes feel "hot" or overly analytical, especially in the presence region (7kHz – 10kHz). For our specific signal chain, in our Open Baffle systems, this can sometimes lead to a presentation that feels slightly over-analytical rather than organic. It’s probably a choice for those who crave every technical nuance.

• AKM (The Velvet Balance): Asahi Kasei chips offer a beautiful middle ground. They can be as detailed as Sabre but lack the aggressive "sharp edge." The sound is more liquid and smoother, making it ideal for long, fatigue-free listening.

• Burr-Brown TI (The Organic Body): Our preferred choice for a truly lifelike experience. BurrBrown TI chips (surprisingly good those with DirectPath™ technology) provide the tonal weight and holographic soundstage that Open Baffle speakers thrive on. They don’t just highlight notes, they reconstruct the instrument's body.

II. Amplification

Pairing an amplifier with high-sensitivity speakers requires a different mindset. You aren't looking for "raw grip"; you are looking for "tonal harmony."

Our speakers are designed with high sensitivity in mind. They do not require massive amounts of power to come alive. In fact, amplifiers exceeding 100 Watts per channel are often more than enough even in large rooms.

In a high-sensitivity system, the "first watt" is the most important. Instead of chasing high wattage, we recommend focusing on the purity and refinement of the power provided. A highquality 35W to 70W amplifier will often offer more texture, air, and musicality than a 200W powerhouse designed for difficult, low-efficiency loads.

• The Damping Factor (Let the Drivers Breathe): Many modern amplifiers boast extremely high damping factors (500, 1000, or more) to "control" heavy woofers. For our 15-inch drivers, this can be counterproductive. We recommend amplifiers with a lower damping factor (100 or less). This allows the large diaphragms to express their natural resonance and "breath," resulting in a bass that feels more atmospheric, meaty, and alive.

• Tonal Balance (The "Darker" Path): Because our speakers are highly revealing in the highfrequency range, they pair beautifully with amplifiers that have a "darker" or warmer sonic signature.

• The Denon Archetype: We often point towards the Denon house sound (like the PMA series) as a great starting point. Their characteristic "meaty" low-end and slightly recessed, smooth highs provide a perfect foundation for our speakers.

• The Goal: Avoid "bright" or clinical amplifiers. A high-precision speaker paired with a highprecision, bright amplifier can result in a sound that is too lean or fatiguing. You want an amplifier that adds "grounding" and "warmth" to the system.

• Vacuum Tubes (The Ultimate Synergy):

Due to our minimalist crossover design (featuring only a single high-quality Jantzen Audio capacitor for the tweeter on the ATMO Model), vacuum tube amplifiers are a natural match. Even low-power SET (Single-Ended Triode) designs can drive our systems with incredible authority, offering a holographic soundstage.

III. Power Supply Architecture

While often overlooked, the type of power transformer in your amplifier plays a subtle but vital role in the synergy with Open Baffle speakers.

* EI-Core (Square) Transformers: In our experience, amplifiers equipped with traditional EI-core transformers (often found in classic Japanese designs and high-end tube gear) offer a superior match. Their natural "elasticity" and higher leakage inductance act as a gentle buffer, providing a meatier, more organic low-end and a relaxed, natural midrange.

* Toroidal Transformers: While excellent for high-speed, high-grip control, toroidal power supplies can sometimes feel too "stiff" for high-sensitivity drivers. If your system feels a bit lean or overly controlled, switching to an amplifier with a substantial EI-core power supply can often bring back the "breath" and harmonic richness the music deserves.

IV. Gain Staging and how to set up our or similar Acoustic System for comfortable listening

However, there’s one important detail we want to expand on here: Most audio sources (DACs, CD players, streamers, etc.) have a standard line output of around 2V RMS. While this works well with many modern amplifiers, not all amplifiers are designed to handle such a high input signal. Some input stages can be overloaded by this level, which may result in distortion, harshness, or even clipping — effects that are especially noticeable with high-sensitivity speakers.

Besides, modern recordings (especially after the "Loudness War") are often mastered very close to 0dBFS. When the DAC’s reconstruction filter processes these samples, the resulting analog wave can actually overshoot 0dB.

• The Issue: If your DAC is running at 100% volume, these "intersample peaks" can cause microclipping within the DAC’s internal circuitry.

• The Result: You don't hear obvious distortion, but you lose "air," the soundstage flattens, and high frequencies become fatiguing. By backing off the volume in the digital domain (especially with 32-bit processing), you create headroom for these peaks to breathe.

That’s why we recommend not running your source at 100% volume. Instead, try setting your DAC or source to around 60–80% of its maximum output. This helps prevent overloading the amplifier’s input stage and can lead to cleaner, more natural sound.

Proper gain staging is one of the keys to getting the best performance from audio system.

We don't believe in "best" brands - we believe in "best" pairings. Whether you choose the warm authority of a Denon-style solid-state or the liquid magic of a tube amp, aim for a partner that respects the natural dynamics of the music.

Trust your ears and feelings. If the sound feels grounded, meaty, and effortless - you’ve found the synergy. There is no single "correct" setup - but the one that moves you.

Happy listening!

29.01.2026