Subwoofer is too loud with gain all the way down

Hi Sean!

That’s pretty weird. It’s a pretty weird set up and it’s odd you can’t get less gain. Are you really saying it’s too loud, or just boomy at some frequencies?

Can you help me out a little bit and explain why you have an integrated amp and a preamp? I’m really very confused why you would have both.

Are you sure the Emotiva’s outputs are variable? Processor loop outputs are always full range. What is the exact model of Emotiva you are using?

If your sub has speaker level inputs, try those instead.

Lastly, if you really just can’t solve it the normal ways, you can try to add more padding using a resistor in series with the RCA connectors, or a stereo volume control. I suspect you have something else going on though.

Emotiva integrated amp outputs? Do you mean line level preamp outputs?

Hi, it's an Emotiva Mini-x a-100. I would imagine that they are line level preamp outputs.
It's pretty much too loud and too boomy with most music. I have the sub X-over @80Hz. 
I have an integrated amp and preamp because I need the USB DAC to go to my computer. I thought that it was very normal to have a preamp feeding into a power amp or integrated amp? 

Put some Rothwell inline attenuators on the subwoofer rca's

Cheers George