AR SP8 mk2 high output volume

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.

AR SP8, has 4 12AX7's , 1 AT7 and 1 6922.
yeah you could swap  a  pair of 12AX7's, and employ   12AU7's in that circuit.
have Richard remod it  for you

https://www.arcdb.ws/model/SP8

I used to have an Audible Illusions Modulus 2 pre-amp, the line stage of which provides 30dB of gain! Did Art Ferris ever update his design?

If anyone interested, this is the schematic of the Puresound A30

http://lampizator.eu/AMPLIFIERS/CHINA/bewitch%206550/IMG_5576.jpg

IMO, leave the Puresound A30 and AR SP8 stock, just simply set the Puresound A30 volume knob at 12 or 1 o'clock is the best solution.