[goingsolo]

I have a pair of Khartago monos driving a pair of Lorelei for a year.
Initially, I was using a Burson HA-160D as preamp and I needed only first 2 clicks on the volume control to reach the normal listening level.  3 clicks would be too loud.  I initially thought the Burson's output was too high or volume control was too sensitive.
But last month, I have tried with 3 other preamps and I have the same issue with all preamps driving the Khartagos.  First 2-3 clicks on the volume dials and it is already too loud.

Any one has similar experience with their amps and any suggestion on how to solve this annoyance?

[MaxCast]

What were the other three preamps?
Maybe the gain was too high on all three.

[goingsolo]

What were the other three preamps?
Maybe the gain was too high on all three.

The other 3 preamps I tried are an old Adcom, Bottlehead Foreplay III and original Promitheus TVC.
My sources are Sony C555ES SACD player analog outputs and Metrum DAC analog outputs.

[germay0653]

Hi goingsolo,

I have an ADCOM GTP-830 HT Controller and have never had a problem using it with my Khartago Mono's.  They sound sweet and refined.

[JLM]

There are inline resistors you can add to decrease the apparently highly input sensitive Khartago.

Another option would be to plug in stepped attenuators between interconnects and amps, that way you have an extra no-gain volume control.

[stereo5]

I would call Odyssey and talk to Klaus or Alex and see what they have to say.  I am using a Stratos amp with a tube preamp and the volume/gain is perfect connected to my Kismet Reference speaker (same as Lorelei except more expensive crossover parts)

[thunderbrick]

Are the speakers, uh, highly efficient?

[Haoleb]

Another thing you might consider is your source. I have used a few different preamps with my khartago mono's and have never had a problem of too much gain. If your source has a higher than average output level your going to get less useful span on the volume control.

[goingsolo]

Are the speakers, uh, highly efficient?

Speakers are 89dB.

Another thing you might consider is your source.

This is most likely the issue since swapping preamps haven't made any difference.
I will have to adjust the output level on the source when I listen late at night.
I have contacted Burson and they will be sending me an output PCB with reduced gain to try.

[JLM]

For all the worries about not having enough power, the more typical problem is exactly what you're experiencing - too much gain (source or pre-amp).  Lack of useful volume range is one aspect, but the worse is self-noise (from the source/pre-amp).  Phono pre-amps and power amps are the worst (this is big problem with high efficiency speakers).

The good news is that your system doesn't seem to have much self-noise.   

[slhartsf]

I have a Musical Fidelity A308 cr preamp inputting into a Musical Fidelity Tube Buffer, then inputting to a Stratos Dual Mono (180 Watts per channel).  These drive a REL Serie R 328 sub via Nuetrik connector, and Klipsh Cornwalls with Bob Crites crossovers (approx. 99 db).  My normal listening level is about 9 oclock on the volume control.  This has never been an issue for me.  When playing vinyl through the Moon phono preamp, the best level is at 9:30 to 10 oclock depending on the record sonics.

Your problem seems to be that if you turn it down lower you can't get enough dynamics to enjoy the music?  However, I have to agree, with 89db speakers, your normal listening level should be between 9 and 10 oclock.

[mantis]

Have you tried the PCB with the reduced gain yet? I have a similar problem with an AH! Njoeb Tjoeb 4000 CD player.

[roscoeiii]

Agreed with folks here. You will need to find a way to decrease the gain somewhere in your system. Maybe the source or maybe the amp.

[bummrush]

Your problem seems to be that if you turn it down lower you can't get enough dynamics to enjoy the music?  However, I have to agree, with 89db speakers, your normal listening level should be between 9 and 10 oclock.
   Above from part of previous post
Unless I missed something about gain . A volume between 9 and10 is
far as being in the right range is far from normal.Don't quote me but you should be able to turn well beyond 12 for listening.

[koiman]

In regards to the Bottlehead you can contact bottlehead.com and they can tell you how to pad the gain with resisters. Vey easy to do and cheap.
Lee

[goingsolo]

Have you tried the PCB with the reduced gain yet? I have a similar problem with an AH! Njoeb Tjoeb 4000 CD player.

I tried the reduced gaine PCB and as others pointed out, music didn't sound as good as with the original PCB (not enough dynamics?).  So I put the original PCB back.

In regards to the Bottlehead you can contact bottlehead.com and they can tell you how to pad the gain with resisters. Vey easy to do and cheap.
Lee

Yes, I padded my foreplay III with a large resistor and also replaced the volume pots with a very good results.

To be clear, I am not complaining the sound of Khartago amps.  They sound fantastic.
I am just trying to find out if my situation is normal.

Thanks for all your suggestions. 

[roscoeiii]

Talked with klaus about this?

What is the voltage output on the two Burson boards?

[doug s.]

some easy solutions:

http://www.parts-express.com/pe/showdetl.cfm?Partnumber=266-244
http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html
http://www.goldenjacks.com/
http://mysite.verizon.net/vze4c5pt/id2.html

you can also diy these; not hard to make, and lotsa info on the web re: different attenuation walues, if you do a search.

doug s.

[Jim N.]

I use the Harrison Labs in-line attenuators between my digital source and the TAD 150 preamp / Stratos Supreme to drive my Loreleis. I had a little trouble fine tuning the volume at low levels when using 12AX7 tubes and these helped. I have some Rothwells that I have not tried yet.

[djbnh]

I have my Tempest out to Klaus. I picked up a Warpspeed Optocoupler (long thread!), which acts as a passive preamp / volume control. If the Tempest returns, I could insert the Tempest between my sources and the Optocoupler, and use the Optocoupler as a volume control.

Used in this manner, you could have all your sources going into your regular preamp, and then the preamp output to the Optocoupler, then the Optocoupler to the Khartago Monos. There's plenty of finesse in the Optocoupler infinite adjusting volume knob - I think I have mine turned three times to get the level I like with my tube amp and Zu Omen Defs (hi-efficiency @ 98 dB). For the Optocoupler, you could go with the single source input (your preamp) and single output (one each to your mono amps), and could have the ins/outs be single ended or balanced depending on your needs (I don't think the Khartagos would need balanced outs.) The Optocoupler needs a 12V SLA battery - about $20, and your choice of battery charger. Thing is dead silent.

YMMV