Volume level of ARC Ref 5 seems very high

I do agree that the gain on the Ref5/5SE is very high. And yes it is a challenge pairing with high gain amps and speakers that are efficient

I tested my Plinius SA-Reference with my Thiel CS3.7s in my room and while the Plinius was able to drive the speakers well, I thought the ARC wasn't in its optimal range (about 30+ on the display with the 5SE and 40+ with the 5).

So I swapped back to my Electrocompaniet Nemos to allow the ARC to work in its more optimal range.

Would some thing like this work?

http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html

I've just ordered a set :) Will let you know how it goes.

I'll let you know when I get it :)

Got the Rothwells a couple of days ago in the mail but I was out of town so only just got around to testing it.

I am using it in between the CDP and the Ref5SE but it can also be used between preamp and power amp. The reason I am using it this way is because I only have 3 inputs:
the XDS1 SACD where I find the gain too high
the Bel Canto Phono3 and Sumiko Blackbird where the gain is not an issue
the AVR pre out (PROC input) where the gain is a non issue.

Using it between the pre and power would require me to recalibrate my AVR front L/R levels as well as some adjustment on my subwoofer S1 Integrator box so I took the easy way out.

The unit I got is the default 10dB attenuation. I have to say it does work remarkably well.

It was pretty late when I started listening but I could dial the Ref5SE to about 35-40 without disturbing the missus in the next room too much. This is the usual level I listen to but of course, it is much louder without the Rothwells.

At this level, the SPL is comparable to listening at around 25-30 in the past but at those settings on the ARC, I wasn't getting this level of dynamics and punch that I am getting with the Rothwells. There is a lot more detail and I am able to discern more of the background instruments. In the past, I might be able to get more of the dynamics at a higher volume, but I think the loudness (which with compression on some recordings) makes it hard to listen for extended periods.

I have not encountered any downsides at the moment.

Pretty impressed for what is a small price to pay for them vs the ARC.

Still loving it :)

Running it in was a bit painful. It was great out of the box. Then not. Then worse. Then eureka :)

I live outside the US so my dealer got me a new unit and handled the upgrade on his own.

I noticed that while the SPL with the Rothwells in and the ARC at 35 was about 70-78dB for one of the pieces I was listening to, and w/o the Rothwells, the SPL was ard the same level when the ARC was at 25, there was a tactile feedback I was getting with the Rothwells in place. I think that's the transient/dynamics part of it at play.

My speakers are about 8 feet apart and I sit about 8 feet away.

I use XLR (ASI Liveline) from XDS1 to pre and XLR (Silversmith Silver) from pre to power.

For me, there is audible bass and there is tactile bass which is transmitted through the floor, the sofa etc.

I am getting a fair bit more of that with the Rothwells installed and at a lower level SPL than what I normally listen to. w/o the Rothwells and at those SPL, the music doesn't seem to pack as much punch.

Keep us posted :)

why do you need both RCA and XLR?

Glad it worked for you too.