D200 not very good sounding at low volume

[thumb5]

When reducing the max output power of course it will protect your speakers. The side effect is that for a given volume you will need less digital attentuation. They will say it makes no difference to the sound because they believe their digital volume control is perfect and totally transparent, like most here on this forum.  So the 2 things, speaker protection and less digital  attentuation do not contradict each other!

With respect, I think you are conflating two different questions.  The first is a matter of objective, technical fact: does changing the maximum power output alter the gain of the amplifier?  Devialet say no, and I have no reason to disbelieve them.  But since you state "you will need less digital attenuation" I assume you've measured it and found that to be the case - is that right?  In any case I don't have a vested interest so I'm only asking for information.  The second is whether the digital volume control itself has an effect on sound quality, which is at least partly subjective.  I have no opinion on that, partly because I don't see how one can isolate it from other factors that (I expect) would have a larger effect.