... 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
It kind of depends on the quality and performance of the volume pot in your unnamed tube preamp.  It might perform much better at or beyond its midpoint.  So the improvement here might outweigh the degradation of the signal at the amp.  Only way to check is to try it both ways and see which you prefer (if you can hear a difference).
Again, the manual recommends all the way up.. If not you have to clean the pots every now and then. They are not the best pots, BUT that is a great amp. All the way up...

Regards
Am wondering: since there are 2-12AX7s and 2-EF86s - could I change and/or control the preamp gain by changing to equivalent tubes (ex: would switching to a 12AU7 instead of the 12AX7 make a diff)?
twoleftears

Notice that when I set the volume knob on the preamp where I'd feel comfortable for usual listening (about 9 o'clock) - and adjusting the gain knobs on the Parasound's rear: I can decrease volume but there is very little volume increase turning the knob up and thru 12 o'clock: ?
".....would switching to a 12AU7 instead of the 12AX7 make a diff?"      Yes; in most cases, the 12AX7, 12AT7 and 12AU7 are interchangeable (gain factors of 100, 60 and 17 to 20, respectively).      That could actually be your best bet, but- check with your pre’s designer, first.