Jump to content

Receiver's Preamp Stage good enough?


PaulE

Recommended Posts

I use my Denon AVR-3300 to run 3 outboard amplifiers, 1 Front, 1 Rear, and 1 Center with excellent results. The Denon is very clean sounding to start with but I wanted more power and dynamics to support my processors and did not want to overwork the power supply in the Denon. The signal is clean and noise free and now the Denon hardly works at all, and I have enough power to fill an dance hall with sound.

------------------

Sony KP-43T70 43" Television

Denon AVR 3300 A/V Receiver (LF/RF) (LWE-I's w/Motion Feedback - Walnut)

Yamaha M-80 Auto Class A Amplifier (LF/RF) (Belle's - Oak Clear/Cane Grills)

DBX BX-2 2/3/4 Channel Power Amplifier (RR/ARR/LR/ALR) (Heresy II's (Walnut/Cane) & ESS Mini Monitors (Walnut))

DBX MPA-150 Mono Split Spectrum Amplifier © (KV-4 - Black)

Klipsch KSW-15 Powered Subwoofer (2)

Nakamichi DVD-10 DVD/LCD/CD Player

Nakamichi MB-10 Music Bank CD Changer

Technics SL-DL5 DDLinear Tracking Turntable

JVC HR-S7500U SVHS Video Cassette Recorder

VC3 Deluxe Video Clarifier

DBX 400XG Program Route Selector

DBX 120X-DS Subharmonic Synthesizer/Crossover

DBX 3BX-DS 3-Band Dynamic Range Controller (2) (1-LC) (1-RC)

DBX 14/10 14-Band Computerized Equalizer/RTA Analyzer/SPL Meter

Panamax 1000+ Surge Protector/Line Conditioner

Sega Dreamcast w/3 Controllers & VMU's/S-Video Output

Bedroom

Yamaha RX-900U Receiver

Panasonic DVD-A120U DVD/CD Player

Sony SLV-740HF Hi-Fi VCR

BBE - ARS Audio Recovery System

A/D/S L300E Mini Speakers

GE 20" Television

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Hello Jobman,

The Denon AVR-3300 has lots of pre-outs on the back of it making the connection of outboard amplifiers easy, I use the front pre-outs to feed the Yamaha M-80, the center out to feed the DBX MPA-150, and rear outs to feed the DBX BX-2 I am using Stinger Dream Series twisted pair interconnects treated with Caig's ProGold. I am using y-adapters to sum the center channel set of RCA's. Hope this helps.

------------------

Sony KP-43T70 43" Television

Denon AVR 3300 A/V Receiver (LF/RF) (LWE-I's w/Motion Feedback - Walnut)

Yamaha M-80 Auto Class A Amplifier (LF/RF) (Belle's - Oak Clear/Cane Grills)

DBX BX-2 2/3/4 Channel Power Amplifier (RR/ARR/LR/ALR) (Heresy II's (Walnut/Cane) & ESS Mini Monitors (Walnut))

DBX MPA-150 Mono Split Spectrum Amplifier © (KV-4 - Black)

Klipsch KSW-15 Powered Subwoofer (2)

Nakamichi DVD-10 DVD/LCD/CD Player

Nakamichi MB-10 Music Bank CD Changer

Technics SL-DL5 DDLinear Tracking Turntable

JVC HR-S7500U SVHS Video Cassette Recorder

VC3 Deluxe Video Clarifier

DBX 400XG Program Route Selector

DBX 120X-DS Subharmonic Synthesizer/Crossover

DBX 3BX-DS 3-Band Dynamic Range Controller (2) (1-LC) (1-RC)

DBX 14/10 14-Band Computerized Equalizer/RTA Analyzer/SPL Meter

Panamax 1000+ Surge Protector/Line Conditioner

Sega Dreamcast w/3 Controllers & VMU's/S-Video Output

Bedroom

Yamaha RX-900U Receiver

Panasonic DVD-A120U DVD/CD Player

Sony SLV-740HF Hi-Fi VCR

BBE - ARS Audio Recovery System

A/D/S L300E Mini Speakers

GE 20" Television

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Frzninvt:

When I went from just receiver (Sony STR-V333ES) to receiver driving amp (Audiosource Amp3) via preouts, I found that, even though the amp is 150 wpc and the receiver 110 wpc, the decibel level which had normally been 80 at a given volume was now about 75...That is to say, the preouts must be reducing the signal a bit...The receiver has 2V preouts....Did you find the same thing on your Denon? What voltage spec is on your front R&L preouts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, I did not notice a drop in volume level, but I went from 105W to 250W. The Denon user manual shows the analog pre-outs variable from 1.2V to 8V depending on what level you have the individual channel set to. Each channel is adjustable from -12db to +12db and I would assume that "0" is 1.2V and "+12" is 8V. I leave the mains set to 0 or +1, the center at +5, to compensate for the 99db efficiency of the KV-4 versus the 104db of the Belle's. The rears are set to +3, and the subwoofer to +4 I would guess that the Sony should have the same ability to compensate for speaker efficiency and input sensitivity levels on outboard amplifiers. I hope I understood your question correctly.

------------------

Sony KP-43T70 43" Television

Denon AVR 3300 A/V Receiver (LF/RF) (LWE-I's w/Motion Feedback - Walnut)

Yamaha M-80 Auto Class A Amplifier (LF/RF) (Belle's - Oak Clear/Cane Grills)

DBX BX-2 2/3/4 Channel Power Amplifier (RR/ARR/LR/ALR) (Heresy II's (Walnut/Cane) & ESS Mini Monitors (Walnut))

DBX MPA-150 Mono Split Spectrum Amplifier © (KV-4 - Black)

Klipsch KSW-15 Powered Subwoofer (2)

Nakamichi DVD-10 DVD/LCD/CD Player

Nakamichi MB-10 Music Bank CD Changer

Technics SL-DL5 DDLinear Tracking Turntable

JVC HR-S7500U SVHS Video Cassette Recorder

VC3 Deluxe Video Clarifier

DBX 400XG Program Route Selector

DBX 120X-DS Subharmonic Synthesizer/Crossover

DBX 3BX-DS 3-Band Dynamic Range Controller (2) (1-LC) (1-RC)

DBX 14/10 14-Band Computerized Equalizer/RTA Analyzer/SPL Meter

Panamax 1000+ Surge Protector/Line Conditioner

Sega Dreamcast w/3 Controllers & VMU's/S-Video Output

Bedroom

Yamaha RX-900U Receiver

Panasonic DVD-A120U DVD/CD Player

Sony SLV-740HF Hi-Fi VCR

BBE - ARS Audio Recovery System

A/D/S L300E Mini Speakers

GE 20" Television

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think the 4800 must have all the preouts...I only am using my front r&l, and the sub out, because I find the receiver itself is good enough certainly to drive the center and surrounds...Like I said, I think most of the better HT receivers do a very good job with HT. Where they fall short often is playing music as good as a dedicated preamp/amp setup...This is where the most benefit can be derived by running a separate stereo amp via the front preouts, and have the receiver drive the rest.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...