1. try tubes?
2. loudness compensation (progressive low volume boost of lows and highs) usually an on/off switch. When 'on' it automatically, and progressively, engages boost as you lower the volume below ...
Typically misunderstood because it is 'oppositely' named, it should have been called 'low vol compensation'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_compensation
Note: the amp volume/preamp volume/low vol boost circuit work interactively, you need to find the combo that only engages it when the preamp vol is turned below ... Another reason it is either misunderstood, or, disliked because it gets engaged too soon at mid to high volume.
When you get it right, t is a wonderful thing to listen to Jazz at low volume and still hear/enjoy the bass player and brush work on cymbals at proper 'relative' levels.
3. balance/tone controls. remote volume from listening position, oh yeah!
some recordings benefit greatly by a very slight balance adjustment, and some recordings benefit from a bit of tone control
Add the fact that we lose our ability to hear high frequencies as we age. Of course you don't.
carpet is a tone control, acoustic treatments are tone controls, why the heck not use tone controls for certain recordings? bypass of controls is nice.
................................................
give yourself a flexible/optional setup (I change my path often)
Three optional paths
1. direct into my tube integrated amp, Cayin A88t, which has remote volume and 4 inputs (one preamp in)
For sources that I know I will listen to fully attentively, at moderate to high volume, i.e. reel to reel, single cd player, never low volume when I would want low volume boost.
2. tube preamp/tuner via integrated amp's 'preamp in',
McIntosh mx110z for it's amazing tube FM and it's tube Phono EQ. When listening to FM at low volume, it automatically and progressively applies 'low volume boost'.
My TT has switch to bypass or use it's optional built-in phono preamp eq. I prefer the McIntosh tube phone eq. However, my prior McIntosh SS C28 preamp, I preferred the TT's preamp. Then, the TT goes to line, or direct to an amp or integrated amp. Sometimes I go straight to tube monoblocks.
3. Chase RLC Remote Line Controller. Primarily for it's remote balance control from listening position.
It's a remote controlled switch/volume/balance/tone control, and,
Primarily it is for CDs I know need a balance tweak, perhaps a single favorite track, or compilation CDs with many different engineers choices.
Also for a batch of CD's during a picnic/party ...
And for memory lane a dual cassette deck and an 8 track thru it.
It has two sets of outputs if I want to easily compare amps, SS/Tube/....
.....................
IOW, give yourself options that are practical: direct when best, preamp for it's advantages, low vol boost when desired ....
2. loudness compensation (progressive low volume boost of lows and highs) usually an on/off switch. When 'on' it automatically, and progressively, engages boost as you lower the volume below ...
Typically misunderstood because it is 'oppositely' named, it should have been called 'low vol compensation'.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loudness_compensation
Note: the amp volume/preamp volume/low vol boost circuit work interactively, you need to find the combo that only engages it when the preamp vol is turned below ... Another reason it is either misunderstood, or, disliked because it gets engaged too soon at mid to high volume.
When you get it right, t is a wonderful thing to listen to Jazz at low volume and still hear/enjoy the bass player and brush work on cymbals at proper 'relative' levels.
3. balance/tone controls. remote volume from listening position, oh yeah!
some recordings benefit greatly by a very slight balance adjustment, and some recordings benefit from a bit of tone control
Add the fact that we lose our ability to hear high frequencies as we age. Of course you don't.
carpet is a tone control, acoustic treatments are tone controls, why the heck not use tone controls for certain recordings? bypass of controls is nice.
................................................
give yourself a flexible/optional setup (I change my path often)
Three optional paths
1. direct into my tube integrated amp, Cayin A88t, which has remote volume and 4 inputs (one preamp in)
For sources that I know I will listen to fully attentively, at moderate to high volume, i.e. reel to reel, single cd player, never low volume when I would want low volume boost.
2. tube preamp/tuner via integrated amp's 'preamp in',
McIntosh mx110z for it's amazing tube FM and it's tube Phono EQ. When listening to FM at low volume, it automatically and progressively applies 'low volume boost'.
My TT has switch to bypass or use it's optional built-in phono preamp eq. I prefer the McIntosh tube phone eq. However, my prior McIntosh SS C28 preamp, I preferred the TT's preamp. Then, the TT goes to line, or direct to an amp or integrated amp. Sometimes I go straight to tube monoblocks.
3. Chase RLC Remote Line Controller. Primarily for it's remote balance control from listening position.
It's a remote controlled switch/volume/balance/tone control, and,
Primarily it is for CDs I know need a balance tweak, perhaps a single favorite track, or compilation CDs with many different engineers choices.
Also for a batch of CD's during a picnic/party ...
And for memory lane a dual cassette deck and an 8 track thru it.
It has two sets of outputs if I want to easily compare amps, SS/Tube/....
.....................
IOW, give yourself options that are practical: direct when best, preamp for it's advantages, low vol boost when desired ....