why do some systems need higher volume settings to sound good

[Nick B]

I've had systems that were TFL at 10:00 and others at 3:00.  It's a function of speaker sensitivity, preamp gain and power amp input sensitivity.  Whatever.

It matters not where the volume control is set.  It is just the representation of the overall system sensitivity/gain/sensitivity equation.

I had a system with a passive "preamp" that sounded awesome at 3:00 and not so much at noon.  We need to feed our systems what they want.

Thanks, Dave. Passive sounds crappy with the Hattor. Either the 6 or 9dB setting on it are fine.

I have never looked specifically for high sensitivity speakers. Maybe one of these days I will. But the JMR is a great speaker and I have a good chunk of change invested in it.

As it's the best sound I've ever had, I have little to complain about 👍

[Jack]

Nick

Where do you have the gain control on the Elvis set?  Holger recommended to me to set it at 12 o'clock and raise or lower the gain setting on the preamp to compensate.  The actual number on the preamp display is really irrelevant as you're looking for the best sound with the lowest noise. What that 12 o'clock setting on the Elvis actually makes the input sensitivity I don't know but I took his advice and have it set there at least during breakin.

[Nick B]

Nick

Where do you have the gain control on the Elvis set?  Holger recommended to me to set it at 12 o'clock and raise or lower the gain setting on the preamp to compensate.  The actual number on the preamp display is really irrelevant as you're looking for the best sound with the lowest noise. What that 12 o'clock setting on the Elvis actually makes the input sensitivity I don't know but I took his advice and have it set there at least during breakin.

Jack,

I have always had the gain control at maximum. I thought that would  provide the best performance and lowest noise. My system is very low noise as is. But I will play with the game control starting at the 12 o'clock position and see what happens.

[Jack]

If at the maximum setting you don't hear any tube rush then you're OK but if so I would back it down and increase the Hattor's gain to it's maximum setting. 

[ejk]

For now I'm running the Motherlode XL at full gain and the gain control on the Elvis at 50% so likely somewhere between 21-25db gain on the amp. I just got the Elvis yesterday so still experimenting on the correct balance on the two gain controls as my Verity Arindal's are 93db semsitivity. I was running the Motherlode at full gain on the 25s with the jumpers on the amps removed.

Seems pretty high on the Motherlode. Right now the jumper is removed on my Mono 25 and I have the super 6sn7 gain on 2.

I actually have egg on my face.I went to switch out amps and i'm  running the preamp the same way the gain is on the highest. Don't know why I thought it was on the second setting.

[Jack]

With the gain on the Elvis at 12:00 or halfway and the Motherlode at full gain normal listening level is at the low 30,s on the Motherlode dial. I suspect the halfway gain setting on the amp the builder recommended is pretty close to the jumpers off setting on the 25s. With the temperatures steadily rising here it won't be long before the tube amp goes on vacation for a bit.