Losing volume when sub is hooked up


I have an integrated tube amp with pre-outs. when i hook up my sub to the pre-outs i lose some volume. is this normal?
cooch
I wonder if your integrated uses a passive pot or attenuator? If it does and is unbuffered,it will tax the output of your source when used with fairly long ICs connecting a subwoofer. You need a buffer or a integrated with an active preamp section.
not sure about that. i know the ic is about 10 feet long tho. and when i hook the sub up directly to the speaker connections on preamp, there is no volume loss.
Do you mean the main speakers lose volume?
Does the sub have a line/spkr level switch?

Maybe it's in spkr and loading down the pre.