Low gain dac!

I am experiencing same issue in my system as well. When first connected,  everything was great for about a year. Then I began to have the same experience as the OP has been having with the Volume Control.

Over the next few months the issue persisted and started to include the symptoms that Charles1dad described ".. poor L/R channel balance when the Volume Control is severely restricted to the very low positions." In fact I can only achieve L/R channel balance when the Volume Control is at the 5 o' clock position. 

I have sent both the CDP/DAC and Pre to their respective manufactures who swear, and I have confirmed, that they are working perfectly fine on their own. When connected - problems.  I thought that the problem might be the potentiometer on the Pre -TKD 2CP2511-MC/100K. Would changing this out resolve the issue? Any suggestion that may help the OP and myself would be appreciated.
  

Yes, the high output of many DACs and the high sensitivity (low V required) of many modern amplifiers creates this problem. Too much gain followed by too much attenuation.  Attenuators are best when not operated near full attenuation (<50%).  One reason passive preamps are popular. My system is built around a tube preamp with SS amp. Will likely add a tube amp as a alternative.  

My preamp has variable output gain. This requires two attenuators, one pre and post preamp gain. This is not ideal, a single attenuator would be better. However the gain control allows me to use use both attenuators within the best operating region. A compromise I am willing to enlist. 

Thanks for everyone replying I this thread, even the grumpy ones 😜 someone said that everyone should know that Supratek has very high gain, well maybe in the US or UK or Australia, but here where I live, you can be sure that no one knows the brand, I think the same would be the deal in Scandinavia and Europe.
I think maybe Mick didn’t notice the spec on my power amp as we exchanged quite a few emails, I always found him to be very forthright and patient with me.
Now I think some here are given the impression that my system is a total mismatch in gear, well if that’s the case, it sounds bloody fantastic!!!
With an upgrade to my dac with a lower output I think I can live with this, no problem.
Was listening to Tom Russel ( the man from God knows where ) what a fantastic sound and quite a good cd. Also The Modern Jazz Quartet ( Lonely Woman ) beautiful sounding, so much better with the Supratek than with other pre or intergraded amps I have had.So as you see, it is not the end of the world.
As I can see, many other people also have this problem with too much gain! To the more technical minded of you, where do you think the problem is mainly, are the sources the problem or is it the pre - power amps to blame, there must be a technical reason that designers choose to have high gain in their designs, maybe someone could explain for us more the reason and what in a combination of source, pre, amp would be best to have higher gain, I would think variable gain on a pre would be preferable, but maybe I am wrong.

Thanks for everyone replying I this thread, even the grumpy ones that Supratek has very high gain

Oh, ok!

You would have read the 6 moons review and others, before, during, and after your Supratek purchase, where it states that.

The "grumpy ones" don’t mind giving the correct answers when asked from those that ask questions as the title of a thread, that why they are here.

I look forward to giving you some more correct technical help.

Cheers George

OP,
You have made it abundantly clear that the addition of the Supratek improves the sound quality of your Audio system. Other alternatives you have tried were not as satisfying in your opinion. So you’re keeping the high gain Supratek. I understand that rationale. After all you wrote "it sounds bloody fantastic".

At this juncture since the Supratek is staying put, I do believe that acquiring a DAC with a lower output voltage (Probably 1.5 volt or less). I agree it would be nice if more amplifiers and preamplifiers had variable gain adjustment.
Charles