Better MCE volume control w/ lower power amp?

I recently set up an HTPC for my parents using an SB elite pro as the pre/pro with an Outlaw 7125 driving a 5.1 HT and 2 channels to some outdoor speakers. The setup uses Cat5E for the speakers, which actually seems to work very well to comfortable listening levels for them, age 60+. Did calibration at 85db and all was well.

In it's current state the outdoor speakers reach reasonable conversation volume by about 4% according to the winamp slider and the indoor SVS SCM setup reaches pretty loud levels without much effort, very little volume, I'd estimate less than half. I've tried some of the tweaks with volume synch applet etc. but it's still pretty twitchy between loud and way too loud.

So I'm thinking of buying an Outlaw 7075 and using it for their setup and taking the 7125 for myself with a similar setup HTPC since I have more time to tinker with the volume issue as well as liking things at louder levels.

My thinking behind it is twofold.

1. The Cat5e wiring in my parents setup probably won't perform well at higher current flows anyway.

2. The lower output amp should help resolve the volume issue making each gradient about half the power it used to be.

Is there anything I'm overlooking in my rationale here? Should 75wpch be good for reasonably loud clean sound? The SVS speakers seem to be pretty efficient.

Kevin W.

Thanks Jim,

Think I'll probably still get them the 7075 so I can get the 7125 for myself and then likely use the attenuators for myself : ).

On a different topic have you been able to get the optical inputs on your elite pro extension box to work well or automatically switch? I briefly tried to use it with a tivo box outputting audio to it but it simply mixed the single with other music playing on the HTPC. Essentially I had to unplug the optical cord from the Tivo box to listen to music or anything on the HT. I was hoping to get it work more like a pre/pro being able to switch an input port off when something else is turned on etc.

Your big elite pre/pro thread is what convinced me to try it this way. Very impressed with the results so far and I haven't swapped the op /amps out yet.

Kevin W.