Volume level of ARC Ref 5 seems very high

«You sound like someone advocating spending mucho bucks to solve, what for many would be, an adequate and inexpensive fix.»
You're putting a simple resistance between two devices of 10K , connected by a cable of 2K? perhaps, to solve a problem of incompatibility of gains. It's one more? But all the others do not obey to projects? and very expensives. Considering the investment, is not a serious way to solve the problem. There are some preamplifiers, which have entries with different gains, for digital and analogue, or a switch, to change the gain. This is to face the problem seriously. This makes part of the project. I think 'Amused' was thinking that spending a certain amount of money, everything would be perfect. he deserves your comment, not me.

Doggiehowser, I'm looking forward to your impressions of the attenuators...

I'll let you know when I get it :)

Got the Rothwells a couple of days ago in the mail but I was out of town so only just got around to testing it.

I am using it in between the CDP and the Ref5SE but it can also be used between preamp and power amp. The reason I am using it this way is because I only have 3 inputs:
the XDS1 SACD where I find the gain too high
the Bel Canto Phono3 and Sumiko Blackbird where the gain is not an issue
the AVR pre out (PROC input) where the gain is a non issue.

Using it between the pre and power would require me to recalibrate my AVR front L/R levels as well as some adjustment on my subwoofer S1 Integrator box so I took the easy way out.

The unit I got is the default 10dB attenuation. I have to say it does work remarkably well.

It was pretty late when I started listening but I could dial the Ref5SE to about 35-40 without disturbing the missus in the next room too much. This is the usual level I listen to but of course, it is much louder without the Rothwells.

At this level, the SPL is comparable to listening at around 25-30 in the past but at those settings on the ARC, I wasn't getting this level of dynamics and punch that I am getting with the Rothwells. There is a lot more detail and I am able to discern more of the background instruments. In the past, I might be able to get more of the dynamics at a higher volume, but I think the loudness (which with compression on some recordings) makes it hard to listen for extended periods.

I have not encountered any downsides at the moment.

Pretty impressed for what is a small price to pay for them vs the ARC.

Hi Doggiehowser. Heard from Kal at ARC. Kal told me that ARC will schedule the SE upgrade for my Ref 5 sometime next month. I know you have the Ref 5 SE. I recall that you raved about the SE upgrade over the original version of the Ref 5. Are you still "luvin" it? Still think it's worth the bucks?? Thanks.