My setup is an HTPC with analog jacks of the soundcard connected directly to stereo amplifiers (parasound hca-1200, 200wpc) and speakers with about 87 db sensitivity. I was playing them plenty loud with my auzentech x-fi prelude soundcard and gain knobs on the amps at about 4 o'clock, but lately I had to move that soundcard to another computer so I bought the Asus Xonar d2 for the HTPC. To my surprise the output level has decreased significantly and I will have to turn the level knobs higher up possibly close to the max to achieve same output. Will that be overdriving the amp, or is decrease in source signal compensating for the higher gain? I really don't wanna risk damaging my speakers.