Sounds normal to me, as you know I've got the Dynaudio Special 25s which are a bit easier to drive, using the BCD-1 through the BP25P supplying the 4BSST, I and can easily get up to 11-12 o'clock on good dynamic recordings, with over compressed music CDs it averages around 10 o’clock as you have no room for dynamic swings. Listening to movies with a direct analogue out from a Sony Blu-Ray the setting is usually 1-2 o’clock and of course vinyl is higher still.
I also have the 1.3MKIIs and Celestion SL6S’s which are even less efficient at 82db, can easily put the dial between up a few more notches more.
But it really depends on the recording and sometimes the time of day.
As compared with your older preamp I experienced the same thing going from a Bryston .5 to my current BP25P, the .5 never went past 10-11 o’clock and that was with the Celestions and a 3BST.
We should be so lucky as we do not fall into the group who cannot play past 9 o’clock on the dial.
