I have this and it's great. Happy to answer any questions
About what I expected, yeah. The 2i2 has balanced outputs, which have around double the output of single ended. Here is a quick explanation of why:
Balanced signals carry both the original signal, A, and the inverse signal, -A. So when you flip the inverse and add it back in, you get A + -(-A) = A + A = 2A.
The reason for this is noise reduction. Let's say that your noise is B. B will leak into A and -A essentially identically. Now you have (A+B) - (-A+B), which again, comes out to 2A. The noise, B has been eliminated.
Anyways, if you plan to use studio monitors with your TV long-term, you should probably get a balanced DAC. The Schiit Modius is a great affordable option (I know it's much more than the DAC you got, but in-terms of balanced DAC's, it's very affordable, and a very good quality product that will last you a long time).
If you want to try another super cheap unbalanced DAC, I'd suggest the FiiO D3.