Preamp Gain issues with high efficiency speakers

@mstrshikadance As you've probably surmised by now, the problem isn't the preamps. Its a combination of way too much gain in the power amps and a typical digital source (your DAC) having way too much output.

Your amp reaches full power with less than 1 Volt. Your DAC makes 2 Volts... So you have to knock the signal level down quite a lot.

Normally with speakers as easy to drive as yours, the amp would have less power and certainly less gain. Your cj isn't all that powerful and the power would do OK on that speaker, but IMO/IME cj imbued the amp with too much gain. The gain is useful on less efficient speakers.

So in a nutshell its a mismatch.

The nice thing about speakers that are easy to drive is they tend to also be more dynamic as there is less thermal compression. This makes the presentation more lively and interesting. So if it were me, since all digital products put out 2 Volts single-ended, I would replace the amps with something with less gain and possibly less power. Less gain for sure. Otherwise you'll have to use attenuators and as you already noted, they impose their own sonic 'fingerprint'.

Read page 4 of the CJ manual ,  contact CJ and see if they can or WILL 

convert your 11-A 70 watt amp to the 11-XS 30 watt version .

@atmasphere thank you for your reply. This was the same conclusion I came to as well. 

While I can listen perfectly with my system as it is, the only issue is the lack of usable volume control at the low end. Other than that, it sounds incredible. 

I have been on the Decware list for roughly 2 years and am about 50 from the top...so hopefully not too long. That was always the long term solution for these speakers. I am considering spending a bit more on the Decware amp to something higher in the line to be my end game tube amp. 

I also have a FW J2 on the way which will take care of my solid state needs I believe. I like to swap out tubes for SS every few months. 

Thank you for your help!

@vair68robert I was considering this, but I only have the stock Premier 11, not the 11a. I am unclear whether they can convert the 11 to the 11XS. I have asked CJ and will let you know. 

Good Luck with CJ 

I use a passive Gold Point preamp with my SS amp , 

in reading that the CJ volume control is to loud at 1 with 25 db preamp gain and  the Schitt allows you to go up to 7-8 with no gain it got me thinking .  

The 24 position control on the GP passive ( good reading on the web site ) increases volume by different db levels for the first 7 positions then at a steady 2 db's after that ,  using a tube phono preamp I play music from the 12 to 14 positions . So it's a [possibility that the Schitt does the same . If you look into a passive preamp look for one that from the beginning increases volume by 1/2 or 1 db , just a thought .