Einstein The Tube users...help

I would have to use fixed attenuators. Does this affect the sound quality at all?

Anything you add to the chain will affect the sound to some degree. However, having recently been in the same predicament, I found that using the stop-gap attenuators that I have affected the sound quality in a positive way, primarily because I was able to raise the volume on the preamp and involve it more in the overall sound. Making fixed attenuators with Eichmann bullets (or the like) is apparently not that hard. Some people like the Rothwells . I've not tried them. Purist and other companies who make adaptors may also make such an item, I'm not certain. The most important part thing is you would want good quality connectors. Again, if you want to try the ones I have, just send me an email with your address.

When I inquired with Lamm about the same issue, they said they could reduce the gain on the preamp for $85. Pretty cheap, huh? Does Einstein have a US service center? Adding a resistor to reduce your gain is an easy job for a good tech, and hopefully won't require you sending the unit to Germany.

all is needed here is a preamp with fine volume steps. Anything over 100 steps will give you a pretty good flexibility. As an aside, volume at 0 on some preamps does not mean volume off. You need to mute it. Such is the case with some ARC units. I had an LS-15 that was like that and now my LS-25 does that too. I wouldn't list it as an issue though. Once you get a preamp with nice volume control(if it has adjustable gain it is a plus) you will be fine.
Personally, I would avoid anything extra in the signal chain between preamp and amp, apart from your existing IC cable of course. No matter how tranparent they say it is.

all is needed here is a preamp with fine volume steps

The issue is one of overall gain, not fine adjustment. As Tboooe states:

When I increase the volume knob just a tiny bit, the volume is VERY loud.

An attenuator is a non-intrusive fix for the problem, one that will still permit the signature of the Einstein to be heard. Having the gain reduced on the Einstein is an even purer solution, especially if you intend to keep it. Based upon your other thread, it sounds like you may be giving up on the Einstein due to the gain issue. If that is the case, you will have never heard what this preamp can do.

Just my two cents, before I drink myself silly tonight...on hot tea.

sure you're using all the right tubes in the einstein?

what's the input impedance & sensitivity of your amp? i know people using 100k input impedance w/ the einstein w/ reasonably sensitive speakers that don't have the problem you describe. i don't have it either, and am using Mac 501s w/ 20k balanced input.

fwiw, i would not add anything in the signal path. the unit is terrific and you should try to avoid altering the signal path (but i also agree, it should be easy for a tech to correct in the einstein)

Boa2, it has to do with gain as well, but if volume control allows for, say, 0.5db increments, this wouldn't be happening. BAT preamps have lots of steps in volume and will most likely be non-issue. So is the ARC Ref-3.

Tboooe, how many volume steps are there on "The Tube"?
What is the output gain of this preamp?
You may want to use this as a guideline for your future preamp. Compare these with ARC Ref-3 specs.