Problem with preamp volume control

Antinn,

I had forgotten about those Benchmark settings.  Thanks, so much, for bringing that up.  It just might be the solution!

Al,

 Thanks, as usual, for your valuable advice.  Hopefully, the amp settings will do the trick.

Richard

P.S. to my previous post: If you are using RCA-to-XLR cables, rather than adapters, and you ultimately find it necessary to purchase Rothwell attenuators, my suggestion would be to replace the cables with RCA-to-RCA cables and use them in conjunction with inexpensive RCA-to-XLR adapters, such as this one.  But hopefully (and I suspect probably) the amp's adjustable gain provisions will do the trick.

Also, regarding ...

He said that an attenuator is very feasible in the line stage but not in the phono stage.

To be sure it’s clear, the attenuators would not be used in either the line stage or the phono stage. They would be used at the inputs of the amp, as I described above.

Best regards,
-- Al

Using the lowest gain setting on the amplifier may also have subtle benefits for SQ overall.  That is without a doubt the first thing to try, IMO.

Well, the amp settings did the trick.
Of course, in the back of my mind is Benchmark’s recommendation, which I’ll have to forget about.
I think the problem is solved.
It still sounds great!

Thanks to all, especially antinn and Al.

Viva Benchmark!