Which preamp a better match for low-volume listening?

[ggeorgi]

Hi all,

I have a MC275 power amp and I'm finding that at low volume levels (50-60dB) the sound lacks low frequency oomph. At higher listening levels (70dB-80dB) the sound fills in nicely. My source is digital music fed from a DAC into a preamp and MC275. Would changing the preamp provide a better listening experience at low volume levels or am I totally looking in the wrong place?

The preamps I'm considering are:

Preamp 1:
Gain 28.5 dB
Max output 5.5 Vrms
Output impedance 100 ohms

Preamp 2:
Gain 25 dB
Max output 20 Vrms
Output impedance 100 ohms

Preamp 3:
Gain 15 dB
Max output 8 Vrms
Output impedance 250 ohms

My MC275 has the following specs:
Input sensitivity is 1.7v using unbalanced connectors
Gain: 23.2 dB from the 4-ohm tap according to Stereophile using unbalanced inputs
Power: 2x 75watts into 4/8/16 ohms

 

[sreten]

Hi,

Build something like this into your preamp :
Baffle Step Compensation

However make the capacitor bigger, so it only
works in the low bass, as a loudness control.

Changing pre-amps won't make much difference.

rgds, sreten.

I live in a block of flats so cannot crank the volume.
My amplifier has a similar circuit permanently used.

 

[kevinkr]

I second those recommendations, you need to compensate for decreased low frequency hearing sensitivity at the volumes you typically listen.

 

[pieter t]

Wrt output level of your DAC and input sensitivity of your amp you would not need an active preamp.
An autoformer volume control would work great here; they are known to maintain full bodied sound at low level listening and deliver transparency no active preamp can match.