Audio Research reference amplifiers used with RCA IC`s and unbalanced preamplifiers

Wow, 85 db is very loud.  No wonder my wife is always yelling at me.  But going back to cables, if both the preamp and power amps are fully balanced you can use inexpensive balanced cables.  Mogami or something similar for no more than a couple hundred bucks.  For what your investing in the amp seems like a drop in the bucket.  But then again I’m good at spending other people’s money.

Whoops just saw the preamps we not balanced.  Never mind.

ghdprentice

yes just peaks at 85db . If the music goes to continuous spl over 80 db I turn it down to 80db or less. I am aiming for the system to sound best at 70db -80db.

Thats one of the important points about getting better gear. To be able to listen at a lower spl level and achieve maximum enjoyment .  

@ghdprentice ​​​​@nsp I too aim at sub 80 dB sound levels, but my ‘shots’ seem to drift up a bit. It just sounds better with a bit more oomph. Then too, I may be a bit deaf as well. A condition likely exacerbated by the very same SPLs. Good thing that I have only myself to please.

Edit: I turn it down (or up) at 90 dB; that is, if it is playing over 90 dB it is a temporary condition because I want that track to shake walls. And I want my system capable of such performance, if I ask for it. 

I pulled out my sound meter right after my last post. I think the average was 66db  with peaks to 71db. It was at a completely satisfying level. I found the better my system got the less the need was for volume.