All has to do with the gain of the units in question and the attenuation spectrum of the volume control. Not all volume controls attenuate evenly across the sweep. It is best when volume controls are used higher up as long as max volume desired is not retarded. No reason to provide gain just to attenuate most of it.
Emotiva usp 1 pre-amp
Recently pick up the Emotiva USP-1 pre amp ...phono section is good sound stage is very good as well.
But I am setting the volume to about 10 to 1 "O Clock to do what my old 55 belles pre amp would at about 9 o-clock. I take that this unit has some serious damping factor going on..???