PS Audio BHK owners

Depends on the input sensitivity of the Carver and whether you are using SE or XLR connections plus the sensitivity of your speakers. The wpc of the amp is irrelevant.

There is nothing wrong with your preamp. If the Carver is SE you are only getting 3 db gain from the BHK plus the efficiency ratings posted by speaker companies are generally fantasy’s and that is proven when JA actually tests them. Depending on the input sensitivity of the amp, the size of your room, the ambient noise level for the room and your distance from the speakers what you are experiencing is perfectly normal. But feel free to call James at PSA and talk to him but you need to have that input sensitivity number before you do.  I have owned the BHK preamp for over three years and used it with at least a half a dozen different amp and at least that many different speaker combos and the optimal setting was different for every one.