Nuforce STA200

Jl35, that is good to know. The speakers I own are rated higher than that, however do drop below 4ohms in the bass region. Phase angle at these frequencies is benign however. In what size room is your system?

smallish room, about 12x14...I think the amp is fine into 4 or 8 ohms, as long as it is looked at as a fairly low power amp, which is what it was designed as...many amps put out same or similar power into 4 or 8 ohms, such as McIntosh...

I think it's the preamp match which is difficult...

Luminous Audio Axiom ii passive preamp works great with this amp.  I use one, and I think another poster here does as well.  Dead quiet even with the STA-200’s high gain.

I did not have the too high a gain preamp/amp mismatch with my tube preamp.  While we have certainly discussed this problem here and read about it, I am curious if anyone has actually experienced the gain issue and if so:

1. Did the problem create an auditory hiss? or if no hiss,
2.  Was the problem not being able to turn the volume control up high enough to adequately use the preamp's sweet spot?

Thanks in advance