While it didn't happen on my test song, on other songs the EMPEG's internal line amp can clearly be heard clipping when set at +10dB volume. I haven't been able to hear any clipping at +0dB volume.

Right, 0db is the loudest the empeg can go without clipping. Above that it is genuinely clipping the output waveform, so you should expect to hear clipping above 0db. That's the definition of "overdrive".

Why it's quieter than your CD player, I don't know.

- there are occasional pops and clicks in the MP3, most likely from my cruddy CD-ROM drive (soon to be replaced with a nice Plextor, after which I'll re-rip everything)

You could try WinDAC32 (Digital Audio Copy) or EAC (Exact Audio Copy). Both of those have pretty decent ripping engines which, if you turn on their sector synchronization features, will eliminate the pops and clicks.



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Tony Fabris