I would suspect that the passive pre might be part of the problem,but you might try turning the speakers "up" to energize the voice-coils before lowering the volume.Or find a speaker with better low-level resolving power-ribbon/electrostat or 2-way high efficiency speaker.
Ribbons. Electrostatics. Planar speakers. Confusio
I'm not sure that I understand the difference between one and the other and the other. Some years ago, I owned a pair of Apogee Centaur Minors and then later a pair of Apogee Stages. I've heard (but not owned) Martin-Logans. I've not heard these things called Quads (and others?) of their ilk. I presently own a pair of B&W 805 Signatures, which I do quite enjoy -- at medium to higher volume levels. But I miss a little something, especially at lower listening levels from the days when I had some Apogees in my world -- and in my living room. If I were hoping for a bit of late night, low-level fun again -- as I'm sure my neighbors would wish -- do I want ribbons again? Or planars? Or (whatever they ar) electrostatics? I obviously don't understand all the stuff that you good folk do. So I'l ask this, too: Could it be my passive "preamp" that makes listening at low levels so, um, dull? Is there a more normal speaker -- a non-esoteric model -- that might work for enjoying Steely Dan in an apartment at midnight without waking the neighbors? Or for at least enjoying Steely Dan, the neighbors be (Steely ) Danned? Thanks.