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 .
Preamp Gain issues with high efficiency speakers
Hey all,
Been having a hard time with my system lately.
I recently got a pair of Zu Soul 6 that are 100db efficient. My power amp is a Conrad Johnson Premier 11 (70wpc) and my Preamp is a Conrad Johnson ET3-SE that has 25db of gain. Source is a streamer (PI2AES) with Denafrips Pontus II DAC, but it is the same regardless of source.
My issue is that even at 1 out of 100 on my preamp, the volume is still quite loud. If I were to turn it up to 30, I would be well north of 95db.
Due to a new baby, most of my listening is at low volumes.
I have been using in line attenuators but I feel like it adds a slight veil to the sound of the music.
I swapped out my Preamp for a Schit Sys passive pre and I could only turn the knob to maybe 7 or 8 pm before it was LOUD. I figured with a passive no gain pre I would be able to have more control over the volume, but this was not the case.
Is this Amp just a bad match for my speakers? I have read that it is better to have your pre running closer to 40-70% so that you are not attenuating the signal too much but I can barely get it to 5-10% before its quite loud.
Any insight, recommendations would be appreciated!
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- 43 posts total
@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!
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@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 . |
- 43 posts total