Volume at 0db - +12db not very loud at all (1 Viewer)

[jasnall]

Question: Why isn't the volume very loud when I turn it up to 0db and beyond?

So this will be my first post of many trying to get the grab bag of HT goodies I just picked up working. More to the story later bt cliff notes: Mom losing house, had crazy HT, we gutted it, I'm now piecing together what I can in My house.

Equipment in use:

NAD T773 A/V Reciever
NAD CL 9120 12 chan Amp.
Both on Monster power center HTS 2500

1 Niles AT8200 Loud Speaker

I've just plugged the listed stuff in to test it out.

Digi COAX out of my cable box into Digi in on receiver.
I tried just putting the speaker on the receiver and when turned up to 0db its just normal not very loud volume.

Then I turned on the AMP put the speaker on that and ran a cable from the Front L Preout to the input on the AMP and same thing. Speaker worked but even at max +12db just normal volume.

Whats the deal? Most receivers I've used about -32db is normal listening volume. I'm pretty good with electronics but these pieces are a little more than I've dealt with.

Thanks!

 

[jasnall]

Really? Nothing? Seemed like an easy question.

 

[Robert_J]

Your only question was "What's the deal?". "Not very loud" is a very subjective statement. Back that up with some numbers. Have you checked the level controls on the amp if it has any? Have you tested with a 0db level signal?

 

[jasnall]

Sorry guess I was a little vague. I don't have any meters, and the knob on the amp for that channel was already turned up.
I thinkTte volume range on the receiver is form -60dm - +12. What I mean by "Not very loud" is that I can turn it to max, +12db, and I won't be waking any babies up.

I just used the receiver last night and ran two speakers and a sub off of it. I was watching TV at about -25db as a comfortable volume, I also turned up each channel by 2db.

Maybe its just how this receiver is, I'm just used to watching tv on my other receiver at around -40db.

 

[Robert_J]

Manual - http://nadelectronics.com/img/manual/NAD-CI9120_9060.pdf

Page 8, what are you amp trim settings? Turning them to the max allows full voltage from the receiver to reach the amp.

For a full 80w of output power, the amp must have a 1v input signal and be driving a 6 ohm speaker. Less input signal or a higher impedance speaker will both yeild less than optimum power.

You do know this amp is designed for a whole house audio system and not a home theater. Not that it won't work.

 

[jasnall]

Hey Thanks for the manual link! Trim were pretty much to max, I turned the chan i was using to max and i noticed a difference but it wasn't huge.

How do you get the 1v input signal? I have a cable running from the receivers Front L pre-out to the amps input on the channel. the speaker is 8 ohms (4 min)

Yes it was pulled from the system at my Mom's house, she is losing it so I took all the stereo stuff. Full rack of stuff like this running crestron system, lcd touch panels and 4 rooms of speakers. Couldn't let it go to waste right?

Should I just skip the amp and let the receiver power the speakers? I'll be using a 5.1 setup in my man cave.

Again thanks for the help, I'm trying to learn.

 

[Robert_J]

Originally Posted by jasnall

How do you get the 1v input signal? I have a cable running from the receivers Front L pre-out to the amps input on the channel. the speaker is 8 ohms (4 min)

You need a pre-amp the puts out 1v to get a 1v input signal. Page 31 of http://nadelectronics.com/img/manual/NAD-T773_GB.pdf shows that the receiver has a 400mv pre-amp section. That's half the power that is required to push the amp to full power. Then you have an 8 ohm speaker and the amp is rated at 6 ohms. That will limit the amp's output as well.

Looking at the receiver's amp specs, it is awsome. You don't need that 12 channel amp for a home theater. You can use it to the receiver's 2nd zone output if you want power speakers in another room.

 

[jasnall]

OK thanks, kinda figured the amp may be overkill for my simpler setup. I know in it's previous setup it did not get its input from this reciever, I wonder what was feeding it. One of the crestron pieces I suppose. I sent you a PM.