Can you lower gain requirements on tube amp?

2 other things -- I like to run in triode over UL, though UL gives me a 2db boost. Also, does voltage into the TVC affect volume? ie if I had a source with higher output would it increase volume? My current cd player is rated at 2V, +/-3dB output.

You can buy a different amp with lower input sensitivity. You can't change the Cary to get higher output other than the triode/UL option afforded. KT88's are high output tubes so rolling them won't make much or any difference.

You can buy an active pre-amp and get units with up to about 26db of gain which would be plenty.

You can get a CDP/DAC with high gain output (my Wadia had 2, 4 & 6db options).

Other than that about the only thing I can think of would be a possible problem with the passive set up, ie. using inappropriate IC's (too long or electrical values) but I doubt that this is your problem as that would be more frequency dependent than broadband unless they were really long!

But, FWIW, something just doesn't seem right to me about this 'problem'. It is almost as if something is damping your system down. With 87db speakers and 60wts you should be getting some very loud sounds even without pre-amp gain added. Are you using more than one pair of outputs from the 'preamp'? Some pre-s have two outputs which do no act independently of each other and create an additional load on the line out and can greatly reduce the pre-amp out put.

Anyway, that's all I know. Hope it helps a but.

Your only option, if you want to continue using the equipment mentioned, is to up the output voltage of your source(which you didn't mention). Do you find that some of your recorded material provides adequate SPLs? There's a wide disparity in recording levels between various labels/engineers, and that will affect what reaches the Cary's inputs. The output of the Rocket 88 isn't really enough to drive an 87db system to what I'd consider high SPLs anyway. I owned one(tried it with a Placette Passive Linestage) and, if they could be easily converted to higher powered monoblocks: I'd have a pair.

Agree with Rodman, You're obviously underdriving your speakers. Neither UL or triode will do the right trick in your situation.

Thanks so far.

Newbee/Rodman -- are you suggesting that a source with higher voltage will produce more gain at the amp end? My cdp is rated at 2V, +/-3dB output. To answer your question: yes, much of my recorded material does provide adequate SPL's, albeit at close to or at the volume knobs wide open.

The Cary's input sensitivity is 1.2V for full output.

Sounds like some of you are suggesting that the speaker load is also contributing to the lack of loudness, I would concur with that. However, the sound is very full, not missing anything and this coming from after using 160w class D amps. I prefer the Cary. My listening space is roughly 10' x 15' x 12' -- an area within a larger open space but still I would consider small/med size, which helps. And with other preamps with either more gain or active, I am able to achieve all the volume I need. I just prefer the TVC, hence the thread.