AR SP8 mk2 high output volume

I am using the Puresound A30 as a power amp because it is a possible option and so indicated by the manufacturer.

I have just tried to use the Puresound attenuation as you have indicated and the result is quite satisfactory, with this volume at 1:00, I can have a tour in the AR between 10 and 11 as a high volume level

@tenoris
If the above two statements are correct then you might be using the wrong input- use the one marked 'amplifier' rather than something like 'AUX'.


If this amp can be used as a power amp it will have an amplifier input, and that will reduce the gain such that the ARC can be easily used.


If it does not have an amplifier input, then what the manufacturer told you is incorrect, and there really isn't any advantage I can see from using the ARC- it should sound better just running the amp by itself with its own volume control.

There's no power amp input on this, just use it as an integrated and flick the AR.

https://ibb.co/fNVJzTb
Cheers George

Thank you all very much, you are very kind. Let's see, I'm using the A30 as a power amp because I have tried this option and have noticed improvements in the scene and in the sound presentation. I know two more people who also do it with satisfactory results. My ears do not perceive degradation, although this does not mean that there is not. Undoubtedly both devices are very good separately and I like to have them, I will try with the Aux input but I am afraid that they are all the same and the manufacturer does not indicate anything about it, only says that the A30 can work as an excellent power amp, which I hints that the AR could be a travel companion.

tenoris OP
This amp cannot be used as just a poweramp it’s always got the volume control in the signal path, at best it can be said it’s a poweramp with fixed input level controls and source selection.

There is "no rca power amp input" on the back of this amp, as the pic shows, https://ibb.co/fNVJzTb , it only has Tape CD and AUX, aux is also an input for any low level source, but it is not "poweramp input". If it were the passive volume control on the front would not work, and you say it still does.
So once again for the best sound just use it as a Integrated amp which it is, and flick the AR pre.

Or take it to a tech and get the A30's volume control and iput selector fully disconnected then it will be a poweramp, and still use your AR pre, but your going to be back in the same boat with too much gain, with the AR volume down around 9 o'clock.  

Cheers George

Interesting subjecft. I was going to posta topic on this subject of **preamps with high gain** = maybe too much gain
Here is my situation,,I just picked up a used Jadis DPL, , has 1 AU + 1AX + a cd buffer stage. anyway,
I had Richard Gray look over the LINE STAGE (Richard says a pre is actaully a line stage with a phono section),, anyway,, he says there are issues with the design,, that the 12AX7 is giving too much gain in the circuit = meaning at just 1/4 turn of vol knob, and the db level is quite significant,,, so I left him the DPL to look over,,,like 1 hours later he writes,,*Ok just did this and that and this,,,** when Richard gets a task, he goes right to it,,although it is a quite simple circuit and lots of open space to work. In 1 hour he had some mods completed...
I will not know the results as my speakers are being repaired, with new voice coils on the Millenniums and 2 of the W18’s need refoaming,,both I plan to do myself, its easy.
, so you may want to ck out if you can mod the 12AX7 toa 12AU7,, a AX has a mu of 100, a AU of 15.
Richard is anxious to have me test it, but can’t till new xovers arrived from Madisound in 2 weeks.
I’l;l posta YT vid when all upgardes/mods are completed.
Send the pre to Richard and have him mod it for you.