dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 When using an amp that has it's own level/volume control, what do you set it at? I have been setting it to full volume and letting the preamp do the rest. Is this right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 That will work if the preamp can match things up. Are you able to run autocalibration and achieve reasonable levels? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Yea, the receiver matches everything well. I just was wondering if this is typically what people do. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Axz Hout Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 I just was wondering if this is typically what people do. All my amps have gain controls, for Khorns/Belles/LaScala I run the controls -10 dB for normal 80-90 dB music in the room. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willland Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 I think you want to trial and error. I think the "volume" control on most amps is really a gain control which adjusts the voltage gain. Some amps come equipped with them so preamp/amp matching will be more compatible. Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Thanks, I'll mess around with them Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Bum Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 (edited) If you're not suffering from 1) audible hiss, or 2) an overly sensitive volume control, don't worry about it. If you are experiencing those, you'll improve s/n and have less of a hair-trigger volume control on the pre-amp if you reel in the gain control on the amp. The general rule with system gain staging is to run upstream stages fairly hot (while still avoiding clipping), and only raise the gain on the amps high enough to achieve the desired listening level. With higher sensitivity speakers such as ours, that is the recipe for a system with the proverbial black background. I only use amps with gain controls in the Klipsch rig for that very reason. What amp and pre are you working with? Edited May 21, 2016 by Ski Bum 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 (edited) When I had the Yamaha M 80 amp, I just turned the gain knob all the way up and then the avr would regulate everything. Never had any problems with the levels or setting it to around 75 db for autocalibration. Edited May 21, 2016 by derrickdj1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 This is for my home theater denon avr-x6200w. I'm using a 2 channel Yamaha m40 for my fronts, and a 2 channel denon poa-800 for my side atmos speakers. Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 Just use like I did and you should be fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pbphoto Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 If you're not suffering from 1) audible hiss, or 2) an overly sensitive volume control, don't worry about it. If you are experiencing those, you'll improve s/n and have less of a hair-trigger volume control on the pre-amp if you reel in the gain control on the amp. The general rule with system gain staging is to run upstream stages fairly hot (while still avoiding clipping), and only raise the gain on the amps high enough to achieve the desired listening level. With higher sensitivity speakers such as ours, that is the recipe for a system with the proverbial black background. I only use amps with gain controls in the Klipsch rig for that very reason. What amp and pre are you working with? Spot on. When I set my amp's gain to match my pre-amp's output level, the La Scala's were just too sensitive. Lots of hiss and they blew me out of the room with the pre-amp volume up below 9 o'clock. I dialed back the amp's gain to eliminate the hiss and there is a much less sensitive volume knob with a usable range up to 11 o'clock. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Thanks again Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
derrickdj1 Posted May 21, 2016 Share Posted May 21, 2016 The Yamaha M 80 was replaced with the Acurus 200 Five which does not have knobs to adjust the gain. I still have no hiss, and a black noise floor. The avr regulates things without a problem for 2 ch and music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtr20 Posted May 21, 2016 Author Share Posted May 21, 2016 Yea I have both amps at full gain, ran the auto setup, sounds great Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Bum Posted May 23, 2016 Share Posted May 23, 2016 (edited) Not too surprised since you never mentioned the typical gain-related bugaboos (amplifying noise). If the noise floor is already inaudible, reducing the gain controls on the amp would only serve to make it more inaudible, which doesn't make sense, as you can't get less audible than inaudible. High sensitivity speakers put one closer to that audible threshold, but if you're not quite there (by virtue of squeaky clean line level output from your AVR), you're good to go, and it's time to rock out to some music. Edited May 23, 2016 by Ski Bum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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