Not ENOUGH GAIN

Maxwell: ...I have very little gain. I will have the volume turned up to seven and it is just at a normal level."

'7' compared to what? Most level controls start at zero at 7-o'clock, so you must mean something else.

If you're able to operate your level control in the highest quarter of rotation, you system's gain structure is just about right. Most music systems have too much gain and must be operated with the preamp in its 'cut' range instead of its 'gain' range. Lots of us seem to think that something bad is happening if a preamp is operated near or at its highest-gain range; it's NOT bad, it's good.

So...what does '7' mean? And can your system play as loudly as you want it to?
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Agree with Jeffreybehr. I much prefer the volume control past the 12 o'clock position and closer to 2 or 3 o'clock for normal listening. I assume 7 is at the top end of the range. What happens when you move the volume control higher, say all the way to full open?

Jeff,sorry I mean on a scale of 1 to 10 seven is like 1:30 I can not play as loud as I would like it to.George made the suggestion of trying a tube with more gain,sounds like a good idear,but I will call transcendent and see what they think.And to answer clio09 I have not tried it all the way to full open yet.I will let you all know what happens ,thank you for all your help maxwell

Don't do anything. Don't change tubes and there is not even a need to call the manufacturer. As others have pointed out your system is operating exactly as it should. In case I haven't been clear -- you don't have a gain problem.

Yep, Onhwy61 and others are right on.

I think you might look at in a different manner though. A pre-amplifier's amplifying section comes after the volume control an is always seen by the amp at its full output (gain). The volume control is an attenuator between your source and the pre-amp's amplifier section. When fully rotated the VC is allowing the gain of the source to pass to the pre-amp at full value. When the VC is rotated counter-wise it reduces the gain from the source, it does not reduce the gain from the pre-amp itself, nothing does - it is a constant.

Make sense to you? Take our word for it, you're in hog heaven.