I'm in the same happy boat where noon is off and 5 o'clock is LOUD. Not a big deal except the less carbon track the signal has to pass through, the better. That's why a switched resistor type is better.
Output / Input Voltage Question
If I have a preamp that outputs 1.5v, but the amp's input is .5v, would this be the reason I don't have much headroom when I turn the volume up? What is an ideal voltage match for preamp/amp combo? Sorry if this is a dumb question. Electrical stuff is not a strong point for me.