Clipping prevention device and clipping prevention method

A clipping prevention device, comprising:

• a compression section adapted to compress an input digital audio signal level;
• a digital-analog conversion section adapted to operate at a predetermined first operating voltage and convert the digital audio signal, compressed by the compression section, into an analog audio signal;
• an electronic volume control adapted to operate at a second operating voltage higher than the first operating voltage and amplify or attenuate the analog audio signal with a user-changeable amplification factor appropriate to the user's rotation of an operator;
• and
• a control section adapted to calculate a clipping level based on the maximum amplification factor of the electronic volume control and the user-changeable amplification factor, the maximum amplification factor of the electronic volume control being determined when the analog audio signal at the maximum signal level based on the first operating voltage is amplified to the maximum signal level based on the second operating voltage, the control section also adapted to control the compression section so that the signal is compressed according to the clipping level so as to prevent clipping of the analog audio signal amplified or attenuated by the electronic volume control.