High end speakers at low volume

@lonemountain and what’s your take on digital room treatment such as in the Anthem preamp. I’d believe that’s a different story than ordinary DSP.

@lonemountain --

Good post, Brad. 

Many think DSP automatically = digital room correction, but at its core it's simply a tool working in the digital domain with conversion(s) along the way, and DRC mayn't be part of that. I've calibrated my setup via a digital crossover (i.e.: DSP) fully actively sans DRC at a specific and desired SPL, call it reference volume level, which is a reflection of where I want it to sound the best. I hardly go any louder than that, and at lower levels it comes surprisingly alive. Still, that the presentation at ref. level is preferred and is where "everything fits" is not saying it sounds bad at low SPL's, but simply that a certain level is required for proper room fill, presence and physicality. Others setups I know very well are obviously "tuned" to lower SPL's via passive, lower eff. speakers, but at louder levels it's clear they become too hot sounding in the HF region while sometimes being overly warm-ish in the LF department. ATC speakers generally have struck me as being at their best at a certain SPL, say, from 80-85dB's, but that only tells me their balance is attained at these levels where they're typically used in monitoring. 

@phusis my need is exactly to have presets to play music at a specific range of db, between 60 and 70db. The Anthem preamplifier seems to be a good solution with good feedbacks from users.

This Chase Remote Line Controller RLC-1 unit includes automatic and progressive LOW VOLUME compensation. It is like adding the Fletcher Munson ’loudness’ to a modern preamp that lacks that feature:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/144675075673?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=81f8a786-0d0a-11ee-8eb4-386436396564

It can be used as a source selector OR single in/out from a preamp, OR optionally via a tape loop, or processor loop

The s/n 120db is true, no-one can tell if it is in/out of my 3 systems.

I simply use it for remote power to my Luxman in my office system.

.............................................

Setup:

a. turn on, Chase default volume has no loudness compensation.

b. turn on your preamp, adjust it’s volume for your normal (not low) volume. never use that volume control after that, you will use the Chase volume after a and b

c, Chase Volume (nice small incremental changes):

Increase, no loudness adjustments involved

Decrease (from a. it’s default volume). Loudness Compensation is automatically and progressively implemented, a bit, bit more, ...

It also has tone controls, I have never used them as I balance my speakers via their 2 level controls/spl/test tones.

Two identical outputs.

NOTE: must include the REMOTE, there are no controls on the unit.

"The RLC-1 was tested in Stereo Review and got good marks for its excellent specs and sonics. "

@ricco275 wrote:

my need is exactly to have presets to play music at a specific range of db, between 60 and 70db. The Anthem preamplifier seems to be a good solution with good feedbacks from users.

I understand that’s what you want, and my earlier reply to you also reflected that stance with reference to the DSP products suggested by poster @mijostyn.

My latest post however was referring to the approach I use myself, and what’s also more in line with what poster @lonemountain touched upon. I believe the most predominant takeaway with the Anthem or similar in your case is the aspect of digital room correction, rather than the usable outcome of different presets within specified ~10dB range, but that’s just me. It’ll be interesting to learn of your findings here, and what you prefer/find worth it.