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... Should I be concerned?

Hello to all...

So here I am, back again, still trying to "tune" my budget rig to the max "best to me sound":

CD only setup with over 10 yr old Marantz SA8001, into a Tube Line-level preamp, into a Parasound HCA-750 power amp, with homemade speaker cables (12g solid core copper wire, twisted; bare wire on both ends), at back of speaker same wire bent into C-shapes as jumpers... Speakers are KEF Q1s (luv'um).

On the back of the Parasound, there are volume knobs (so you could use the amp direct without a preamp) which I have up full ( as recommended to me thru another topic line). When I play music, I have so little volume adjustment available: I can't really get past 8 o'clock (from starting at 7) without it being too loud... 

One question I have is: will I be degrading the sound if I " adjust" the volume pots on the rear of the power amp, so that I can have more control over the volume knob on the pre? I guess I' be shooting for a 10-11 o'clock on the pre, and I'll assume it means a great decrease in the setting on the power amp.

Could another tact be: to replace the volume knob/pot with an articulated one, one that would click increases as I turn it?

This may be a foolish question - but any info or suggestions (other than criticism or sarcasm) would be greatly appreciated... Best Wishes to all - Be Well.
insearchofprat

Showing 1 response by millercarbon

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
volume effects the outgoing signal but does not have any effect on the signal. It simply makes the signal “louder”.
😂 Clear as mud. And exactly backwards. 

Amplifiers are fixed gain. They multiply (amplify) input by a fixed amount. Volume controls are basically variable resistors. They trim or attenuate the signal. Where the volume knob is pointed, how far its turned, is one of the most irrelevant things in all of audio. If you think it matters, watch Spinal Tap until this sinks in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgx4k83zzc

So no, you should not be concerned.
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