CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

OK, so ive heard this both ways and they both sound plausible.

should the levels on the pre pro be set high and the level on the amps be turned down to the desired decibel level

or vice versa ? Or is it something entirely different ?

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 12:20 am Post subject:

I’m not sure I understand. Pre/pros output line level (that’s normally where it’s adjusted) and no amp I’ve ever owned has adjustments on output power.

Kal

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

On my pre pro I can add 12 db overall also when setting speaker levels you can adjust another 12 db.

All of my amps have output level. yamaha, crown, both sub amps .

Maybe im using the wrong terminology.

**kal** · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2023 7:02 pm Post subject:

I looked up some of your previous posts to try and figure out what model amps you have and you mentioned using "4 yamaha m85 amps" in one post. They have a output trim control that (according to the manual) is for increasing/decreasing output slightly in case you have multiple speakers with different efficiencies. They're not really output volume controls but just for trimming. I would set all amps to whatever is 'normal' or 'default' and adjust volumes through the pre-pro. This is normally what's done in HT setups.

Kal

virusc · Joined: 11 Apr 2007 Posts: 358 Location: Massachusetts

I think I know where you are coming from. Most digital pre/pro's have a volume number that is around reference level and a certain voltage output. For example I have one that goes to 100 and I think 85 is reference level and outputs upto 6 volts. You would find this level on your preamp and then set gain on the amps with your speakers for reference level which is around 110db? The point is you don't want to clip the preamp and/or the amp. It is good to run a little hot out of the preamp in general as you won't be amping noise if the gain is really high on the amp and low on the pre/amp. Am I explaining it ok?

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

OK . Thanks. I get what youre saying.
Kal, the output knobs on the M85 s go from 00 , -20 up to 0 again. If you turn them down ,nothing. If you turn them up they are all the way up.
The difference from 00 - 0 is anything but slight.
I have always set them at the same level and then leveled the sound using the pre pro pink noise tone.
Then brought them down to the decibel level i want using the whole system gain control.
I like it about 85 DB watching movies.
I really thought about doing just as you guys suggested and am going to set it that way this weekend.
I was running the amps kinda hot and then dialing it down on the marantz.
Im gonna try it the other way.
I am resetting Atmos using 2 center height speakers and seeing how i like that.
So far Atmos isnt impressing me. Dont get me wrong its better its just not as immersive as I thought it would be.
I think I need REW to do it right. Im really not up for that.
Thank you guys for your help it means a lot to me.

jeffslife · Joined: 17 Apr 2010 Posts: 4190 Location: ohio usa

So I changed it to running the pre pro a little hotter and turning the amps down about 35 %.
It sounded good but just not quite right, it was only throwing about 70 db.
I changed the crossover from all on 80 hz to 60 hz except for the center.
It sounded great.
What I dont get is that the db increased to about 87.
I am gonna look into that and try to find out why.
For now Im just enjoying it,