PS Audio BHK owners


I’m wondering about the volume control on my preamp.  I have to run mine at at least 40 on the dial. At that level you can have a conversation. It takes to 25 to even hear it. Normal or not? Amp is 375 WPC.
fertguy
Thanks for the information.  I like the pre fine, I just had concerns about the volume settings. 
Fertguy

I have the BHK preamp and my amp is the Pass Labs xa30.8 and it’s only 30 watts per channel and my speakers are Eminent Technolgy LFT8B’s which are very inefficient (83 dB)! My average listening level is #30 on the display on the preamp, if I go to 35 it starts to get pretty loud and if I turn it up to 40, that is too loud. I don’t listen at head banger levels either. I think there is something wrong with you preamp. I would send it back to PS Audio and have them look at it if it’s not too expensive. Good luck.

Scot
FERTGUY what is the gain of the preamp and the amp your speaker are low efficiency amps watts do not matter
There is nothing wrong with your preamp. If the Carver is SE you are only getting 3 db gain from the BHK plus the efficiency ratings posted by speaker companies are generally fantasy’s and that is proven when JA actually tests them. Depending on the input sensitivity of the amp, the size of your room, the ambient noise level for the room and your distance from the speakers what you are experiencing is perfectly normal. But feel free to call James at PSA and talk to him but you need to have that input sensitivity number before you do.  I have owned the BHK preamp for over three years and used it with at least a half a dozen different amp and at least that many different speaker combos and the optimal setting was different for every one.