# Volume Control Too Sensitive **URL:** \ **Category:** Audio Components\ **Created:** [June 6, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283 "2022-06-06T22:29:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![onehorsepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b5ac83/32.png) [@onehorsepony](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/onehorsepony)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 10:29pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/1 "2022-06-06T22:29:38Z")
My latest issue: As some of you may be aware I have a Bryston BP-26 preamp connected to a pair of Classe CAM-200 monoblock amps. My issue is that I have very little range on my volume knob. If looked at as a clockface, I can only go from 6 to 7 using XLR cables, and 6 to 8 using RCA cables. Not only is this lack of range annoying using the remote control, but I question if the sound is compromised by the fact that I’m just using such a small portion of the volume knob. Any thoughts on this? ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 10:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/2 "2022-06-06T22:34:40Z")
Sounds like a gain mismatch. Is the gain adjustable on your preamp? ---
**Author:** ![onehorsepony](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b5ac83/32.png) [@onehorsepony](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/onehorsepony)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 10:48pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/3 "2022-06-06T22:48:20Z")
Is that where any adjustment, if available, would be? on the preamp side? ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/4 "2022-06-06T23:16:44Z")
Not every designer provides a means to adjust gain. My preamp has a gain adjustment. Yours may not. I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![mark-d](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mark-d/32/20_2.png) [@mark-d](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mark-d)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:24pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/5 "2022-06-06T23:24:15Z")
Look at your manual…It has adjustable gain… 16.5 or 22.5dB (internally reconfigurable) It’s probably set at 22.5 db ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/6 "2022-06-06T23:33:03Z")
I just saw the same thing but the gain adjustment looks like it’s for the step-up transformer for MC cartridge use. ---
**Author:** ![mark-d](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/mark-d/32/20_2.png) [@mark-d](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/mark-d)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2022, 11:53pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/7 "2022-06-06T23:53:55Z")
I think your right Ron…👍 ---
**Author:** ![waymanchen11](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/waymanchen11/32/253241_2.png) [@waymanchen11](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/waymanchen11)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 12:30am UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/8 "2022-06-07T00:30:18Z")
What DAC are you using? If you use a PS Audio DSD DAC, you can get rid of your preamp and use the volume on the DAC which has high or low gain and will sound better anyway than putting a preamp like the Bryston in the signal path, unless you are using vinyl as your source. ---
**Author:** ![Craig\_Burgess](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/craig_burgess/32/258763_2.png) [@Craig\_Burgess](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Craig_Burgess)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/9 "2022-06-07T12:30:02Z")
That’s the downside of gain. Lots of people think of gain as 100% positive, but one of its insidious effects is a loss of functionality in the volume control. You lose necessary fine increments of adjustment when you put a new amp in the system and 0-12 clicks of the preamp’s volume (in whatever its unit of measure) is now accomplished with 0-4 clicks. ---
**Author:** ![RonP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/ronp/32/213555_2.png) [@RonP](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/RonP)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 12:34pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/10 "2022-06-07T12:34:26Z")
This discussion of gain matching demonstrates some of the importance of system synergy. ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 12:40pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/11 "2022-06-07T12:40:00Z")
a pair of line attenuators between pre and power amps will sort this (and i say again: power amps should have attenuators built in) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Photon46](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/photon46/32/142920_2.png) [@Photon46](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/Photon46)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 2:56pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/12 "2022-06-07T14:56:12Z")
Joma0711’s suggestion to try in-line attenuators is a relatively low cost work around worth trying. I’ve got a pair of -10db. Rothwell attenuators that I’ve used in preamp/amp gain mismatch situations. In some equipment pairings there is a slight loss of high frequency detail but in others I’ve not heard any deleterious effects. I’ve always avoided any preamp with more than 11-12 db. of gain because of the problems the OP is having and even then a rotary ALPS type volume potentiometer can be restricted to a 1/4 of the volume pots range with 86-87db. efficient speakers and an amp with gain in the mid 20’s. ---
**Author:** ![john2213](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/john2213/32/94338_2.png) [@john2213](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/john2213)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 2:57pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/13 "2022-06-07T14:57:08Z")
Do you know the gain of your pre & amps? Is either adjustable? Is the issue worse with some sources as opposed to others? If you have a phono pre in the circuit that units gain is in the equation as well Best, -JP ---
**Author:** ![john2213](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/john2213/32/94338_2.png) [@john2213](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/john2213)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 3:06pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/14 "2022-06-07T15:06:57Z")
> [@joma0711](#): > > (and i say again: power amps should have attenuators built in) 🙂 Agreed, these can be quite useful at times. My preamp is also switchable 6 or 12db Many phono preamps have adjustable gain as well. If you have a stand alone SUT there’s even more variables Getting overall system gain correct is essential and allows a wider range of the volume control ![Gain_1](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/uploads/psaudio/original/3X/4/1/4177730d4fcde0b813574f3811ac23eabb510518.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![joma0711](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forum.psaudio.com/joma0711/32/277666_2.png) [@joma0711](https://forum.psaudio.com/u/joma0711)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2022, 6:33pm UTC](https://forum.psaudio.com/t/volume-control-too-sensitive/29283/15 "2022-06-07T18:33:56Z")
Indeed - I’m all about gain structure 🙂