Voltage output is usually specified on a per-channel basis. So that would be 6.3vrms per channel, which would correspond to about 9 volts peak amplitude.

I would expect that these voltages are close to the clipping levels of the active output stage (close in this case being within a factor of two).

To go from 1 volt to 4 volts requires a voltage gain of 4 ( 4 divided by 1) which corresponds to a voltage gain of 12dB. Each doubling of voltage (or current) requires 6dB of gain.

I do not expect an output of 4v (whether it is peak or rms) will clip the output stage, but if the input signal is too large, and with the volume control turned down so that sections of the circuit after the volume control (potentiomenter, digital attenuator, or whatever) are not clipped, there may still be clipping of circuitry prior to the volume control) IF THE INPUT SIGNAL IS TOO LARGE.

Without special ciruits designed to indicate clipping (or an o'scope to look at waveforms), short term clipping is not likely to be heard. Severe clipping can be heard.

Paul

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the 1derful1