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Avantgarde Trios too loud with my amps

I just bought a pair of Avantgarde Acoustic Trio speakers and run them on BAT VK-5i and BAT VK-60 monos!
The problem: They are still too loud at the lowest volume setting on my tube amps and listening to music at night is almost impossible since my kids are asleep.
I have my phono preamp under control since it allows me to change the output, but listen to my digital source ( ML 31.5 - 30.5 combo) is definitely too loud!

Does it mean I have to go and buy another preamp?
any other ideas are highly appreciated!

many thanks,

mckorzi
mckorzi
mrderrick
292 posts
 
You could try some Rothwell fixed attenuators or Endler adjustable attenuators.
You could try them between your source and pre or pre and amps.
chadeffect
586 posts
 
Why not try the kind of amps the Trio allows you to use?

You do not need all that power. 2-25w is plenty. All that push pull and extra amplification stages only eat into the organic ness and beauty that small simple amps will give you. With the kind of sensitivity you have the amplification possibilities are endless. 45 tubes, 2a3, AD1,300b and so on.

That aside, ask BAT if there is a change in resistor value that could bring your volume control into a more useable range.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
You can also easily go to one BAT VK60...have to take off the bottom cover, change a few jumpers and a wiring harness...call bat or your dealer here...
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Chadeffect,
That was very sound advice.With a speaker of this caliber and sensitivity those simpler circuit amplifiers could provide some very natural sound and excellent tone.Something to think about.Mckorzi, if you read chad`s system page you`ll see he`s used a multitude of amplifier topologies. He speaks from well grounded experience.
Regards,
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,373 posts
 
I would seriously consider other amps. I had duos with BAT 150s and it was to much I had much better sound with lower powered tube amps or even the pass aleph 3 for that matter. Trios being such a sensitive speaker were made to be used with the very low power tube amps that create such a beautiful sound but are not practical for most speakers.
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