Strange distortion with my setup - solved

EDIT: I figured out my dumb mistake. I left the Gungnir Multibit XLR output to Neutrik balanced to SE transformer connected during all my testing (I only disconnected the RCA output to amp). This would still draw current even though the RCA is disconnected since it's transformer coupled, so effectively I was forcing the Gungnir Multibit to drive both RCA out and XLR out simultaneously. Or even just using the Neutrik balanced to SE transformer by itself was drawing too much current.

Note, if you like the sound of powerful percussion, get the Eiji Oue and Minnesota Orchestra playing Aaron Copland Fanfare for the Common Man. The intro is intense! Note, I only saw this issue one bits and pieces of other music - it needed the perfect storm of my Neutrik transformer plugged in, and a strong near clipping signal.

I also made edits to the below to keep just the pertinent setup to highlight my screwup setup.

Long story short (including my own mistakes in creating replaygain modified files), I've been able to nail down these specific conditions:

Music:
Eiji Oue Conductor - Minnesota Orchestra - Aaron Copland: Fanfare for the Common Man, the first 5 seconds with just the powerful timpani strikes (before the trumpets play). Purchased 44.1/16 FLAC from Presto Classic.

David Chesky - Yaniv Segal Conductor - Joy & Sorrow: Betty's March, last 10-20 seconds that ends with very strong percussion + orchestra playing. Purchased 96/24 FLAC directly from HDTracks.

Setup 1:
Aries Mini using both USB as well as coax digital to Gungnir Multibit Gen 5 USB (USB or coax, only one plugged in at a time) then RCA SE to both Eddie Current 2A3 MK2 and Schiit Mjolnir 2.

This setup, using the raw files as directly purchased, the distortion is horrendous. With "Fanfare" each timpani attack and even part of the sustain had significant issues. The "Betty's March" wasn't as bad, distorting only on the attack. Turning on the "software volume" of Aries Mini and lowering the digital volume to about 70 or lower (out of 100) and increasing the amp volume seems to solve the distortion (only the slightest of distortion at the peak of the attack - very likely this is in the recording itself). I then used dBPowerAmp to convert with "ReplayGain (apply)" by whole album, to create a copy with overall lowered volume. At -8 dB there were improvements in "Fanfare" with only attack distorting. Note, the raw album is +1.29 dB (meaning it is -1.29 dB quieter than target). Fanfare track ReplayGain is -0.86 dB (so it's louder than target) with Track peak of 0.976624 (so it's not clipping). "Betty's March" was clean. At -12 dB the main issues went away.

I also tried Gungnir Multibit XLR to Neutrik 1:1 transformer coupled balance-SE converter to SE, then to both amps. Exact same issue. I haven't tried Gungnir Multibit XLR to Mjolnir 2 yet, will do that later (didn't think about this earlier, since the EC amp is SE only).

 

In addition, I check the spec sheet of the Neutrik NA2F-D0B-TX and noticed the source (balanced side) impedance is 600 ohms. Another doh moment, should have read this first. I believe the Gungnir Multibit and Yggdrasil Analog 1 are known to potentially have trouble driving XLR with only 600 ohm impedance. I guess I need another balanced to unbalanced transformer with much higher impedance, or get a Yggdrasil Analog 2 hehe.