A volume control can't alter, distort, overdrive, add noise, etc.. to the signal, other than the impact on sound quality the control itself has. (Gain controls can, but not volume.) It can't add or take away noise. The problem lies elsewhere in the system. That said, all audio equipment is prone to the type of noise you are talking about under certain conditions. It doesn't mean anything is wrong. The simplest and easiest solution is to get some Rothwell attenuators that just go inline on a pair of interconnects. They are made for this specific problem and you shouldn't hear any difference in sound at all.
Amp, Preamp, two volume pots, there can be only one!
Hello everybody,
I have a question regarding the two volume knobs in my system and how they
should co-relate.
Here is my gear, both units are tubed:
Amp: Coincident Dynamo 34SE Mk1 (Output power: 8Wpc, Sensitivity: 300mV for full output, Input impedance: 100k ohms, S/N ratio: 92dB)
Preamp: Doge 8 2018 (Output impedance: 600 ohms, Input impedance: 50K ohms, Input sensitivity: 200mV)
Speaker: Proac 140 Mk1 (Sensitivity 91db, Amplifier Power Range 15 - 250 watts)
Now here is the dilemma, Coincident says if Dynamo is used a power amp the volume pot should be left open (heard that some call it a sensitivity pot too) but this introduces noise in the system (albeit when music is not playing) and leaves a very small usable range on the preamp volume knob, and hard to hit the sweet spot as at 9 o clock its already very loud.
So what would be the best way to run things without losing signal quality? And is there any mismatch between my power/pre?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!