Speaker Asylum General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

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The problem you express is not uncommon......

Posted by Robert C. Lang (A) on January 7, 2009 at 02:00:38

In Reply to: RE: No, 24 tube watts into 91 db (or more) speakers in a mid sized room posted by pretzel_logic on January 6, 2009 at 17:54:46:

There is no need to apologize. Sometimes it takes a few exchanges for adequate clarification. Besides the problem you express, excessive volume very early in the volume control range, is not uncommon. I have similar scenarios expressed numerous times in these forums. Most people just live with it (or even brag about it because they think it means their amps are brawny). It's good that you recognize that situation this can be a problem. What makes your problem a bit unusual is that your amp is of fairly low wattage. Perhaps your speakers (Klispch) are more sensitive than you realize?

A couple of posts up I cited the *exact* problem I experienced a few years ago. I was fortunate enough to have a "gain control" on my amplifier which easily dealt with the problem. At 0 gain the volume at "10:00" was far too loud, but changing the gain to (I think) -24 enabled the volume control turned to 2:00 or so before reaching the equivelant volume level. Some amps (and pres) still have this control but it is not as common as in the past which is why I had my current amp modified by the designer to preclude the problem you described.

And you are probably right on in your description of the veiled sound that you experience with the volume control barely turned up. Paul McGowan of P.S audio explained to me at a CES once that the volume control is at it's best (sounds its best) when it is more fully open (not working to supress) the volume from the amp. When the volume control is closed it is working the hardest. I've have always had my volume controls set so that they have to be almost fully open to access full power. My speakers are just as efficient as yours and my amps generate about a 1000 watts. Of course, it helps (in my case) that I use a passive line stage instead of a pre amp.

You might double check to see if your amp or pre has some way to adjust gain. Otherwise, you may need to upgrade/change one of the other to gain flexibility. I don't think changing speakers is the answer (to resolve the gain issue) because while they are fairly efficient (for speakers) they are not *that* efficient and probably most speakers, save the least efficient models will cause similar issues for you.

Robert C. Lang

Edits: 01/07/09

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