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... Should I be concerned?

Hello to all...

So here I am, back again, still trying to "tune" my budget rig to the max "best to me sound":

CD only setup with over 10 yr old Marantz SA8001, into a Tube Line-level preamp, into a Parasound HCA-750 power amp, with homemade speaker cables (12g solid core copper wire, twisted; bare wire on both ends), at back of speaker same wire bent into C-shapes as jumpers... Speakers are KEF Q1s (luv'um).

On the back of the Parasound, there are volume knobs (so you could use the amp direct without a preamp) which I have up full ( as recommended to me thru another topic line). When I play music, I have so little volume adjustment available: I can't really get past 8 o'clock (from starting at 7) without it being too loud... 

One question I have is: will I be degrading the sound if I " adjust" the volume pots on the rear of the power amp, so that I can have more control over the volume knob on the pre? I guess I' be shooting for a 10-11 o'clock on the pre, and I'll assume it means a great decrease in the setting on the power amp.

Could another tact be: to replace the volume knob/pot with an articulated one, one that would click increases as I turn it?

This may be a foolish question - but any info or suggestions (other than criticism or sarcasm) would be greatly appreciated... Best Wishes to all - Be Well.
insearchofprat
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
volume effects the outgoing signal but does not have any effect on the signal. It simply makes the signal “louder”.
😂 Clear as mud. And exactly backwards. 

Amplifiers are fixed gain. They multiply (amplify) input by a fixed amount. Volume controls are basically variable resistors. They trim or attenuate the signal. Where the volume knob is pointed, how far its turned, is one of the most irrelevant things in all of audio. If you think it matters, watch Spinal Tap until this sinks in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgx4k83zzc

So no, you should not be concerned.
rodman99999
6,034 posts
 
No, you should not be concerned.      You can either download or read the owner’s manual from Parasound, here: https://parasound.com/pdfs/vintage/hca750_1000om.pdf      You’ll find instructions, under Level Controls, on page 7.      Here’s a more detailed explanation, of what you’re facing: http://rftech.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/471/~/what-is-an-amplifier-gain-control%3F#:~:tex...      Read the tutorials at the bottom of the page, for more insight.      You’ll note, if you read the Parasound manual; it mentions that the amp will sound best with the level control set to max.      That’s because at max, the control’s resistances (crappy traces, typically) are bypassed.      Only you can judge whether a lower setting matters, to your ears.
knotscott
830 posts
 
Try it and see what you think.  Just be conservative.  You can always put it back if you don’t like it.
roxy54's avatar
roxy54
7,780 posts
 
I have gain controls on my old Mac 2105 which I adjust frequently so that I cn keep the linstage volume up to a certain level, and I have no issue at all with the sound quality. My tech told also me that it has no effect on the peak power available from the amp. 
rodman99999
6,034 posts
 
A suggestion: Turn the Parasound’s level controls all the way down and your preamp’s volume knob to where you want it, at what you desire as your highest/max position.      If you can choose, do this procedure in Mono mode.        Play what you know to be a CD recorded at a high level, with a good center image.      Turn each channel’s level control up (slowly) to obtain your highest, typically enjoyed, listening level/SPL, with a solid center image.      Listen in Stereo mode.        If you don’t like the sound: like knotscott said.....
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