Amp & Preamp Hookup

jessicadunn

I have just taken out of storage an old stereo that we inherited and I have no idea how to set it up. It is a SAE Mark XXXI amplifier, and a threshold T3 preamp. as well as Infinity speakers and a receiver and CD player. The hookups in the rear of the preamp are so foreign to me, and Im not sure which to hook my amplifier into. I also got some MIT Terminator crazy speaker cables. I remember this system sounding amazing, but I cannot figure which cables go where, and have tried to mess around with it. I went to a Electronics repair shop and he told me to just get a new receiver and that it will sound better than what I have. Is that true or is worth my time to investigate this.

messiah

jessicadunn wrote: »

I have just taken out of storage an old stereo that we inherited and I have no idea how to set it up. It is a SAE Mark XXXI amplifier, and a threshold T3 preamp. as well as Infinity speakers and a receiver and CD player. The hookups in the rear of the preamp are so foreign to me, and Im not sure which to hook my amplifier into. I also got some MIT Terminator crazy speaker cables. I remember this system sounding amazing, but I cannot figure which cables go where, and have tried to mess around with it. I went to a Electronics repair shop and he told me to just get a new receiver and that it will sound better than what I have. Is that true or is worth my time to investigate this.

Send it to me and I'll let you know.

cheif pontiac

You said receiver? do you mean tuner? for AM/FM?
Basically the CD and tuner will connect to the pre-amp with RCA cables, there should be inputs labeled CD/ Tuner / Probably Tape/ AUX. Marked left/right or Red/White in color So your sources are going into the pre-amp, the pre-amp is going out the Amp and the speaker binding post on the amp to the speakers.

I can only find a small pic of the Threshold, it looks like it has XLR outputs, if so that may be confusing you. These are the big round holes, If your amp has the same you can connect the pre-amp to the amp if you have the matching cables. There should be something labeled pre-out on the back of the pre-amp either RCA connections or XLR. These will go to the connections on the Amp labeled input.

The path is CD>Pre-amp>Amp>speakers.

This is the basics hope it helps, hopefully it will get you started so that you can ask some moer detailed questions.

Just a warning not everyone is on here to help, many seem to post out of boredom and will criticize you or just tell you to send them the equipment. The best thing is just to ignore them because they think they are at the top of the pecking order and are always right.

AudioGenics

jessicadunn

you have some interesting stereo equipment there.
take your time to sort it all out

SAE, Threshold, Infinity, MIT are all respected HiFi names

especially if in good working condition.

and yes .... it is worthwhile

halo71

Jessica, welcome to the forum! Not familiar with that pre but does it have a MAIN OUT on the back for L/R? Run RCA cables from there to the input L/R on the power amp. Run speaker cables to the speakers. The other componets you have should be pretty straight forward on hooking them up to the preamp.

You have some very nice gear there. I would forget what the dude at the repair shop said. Not sure if you are wanting to go just 2 channel listening or HT though. What model Infinity speakers have you got?

AudioGenics

i surfed around quickly

SAE is vintage 1976 - 1981 50 watts per channel
Threshold T3 is 1994-1998 and the company is still in business
MIT Terminator speaker cables ( don't ask about speaker cables on this forum - trust me)
and these MSRP were $130

You got some very nice vintage stereo equipment !
If they are all in good working order or even needing minor repair
you are lucky ... IMHO ....

again Welcome to CLubPolk

messiah

BTW I sent Jessica a pm asking for her to send me pics so I could help walk her through the connections. I figured that might be easiest.

jessicadunn

In messiah's defense, he did ask for photos to help with the connections. Let me get everything out of the case, and some photos and go from there, Im so happy that you are all willing to help. And Im excited that I might get this stereo working.

To Cheif, you're right, it is a tuner, not a receiver. And it is the foreign connections in the back that are confusing me.

I will clear my head, and look at it in front of the computer so that I can do this.

Thanks for the warm welcome.

txcoastal1

Let us know how it goes, most here are interested

[Deleted User]

Hello,
Welcome to Club Polk, I'm sure we can help get everything working. Posting photos will be a great help. It can be useful to think of the way an audio system works as a flow chart. The signals from source components (such as CD players, radio tuners and turntables) flow into control components known as preamps. Then other components, such as equalizers shape the sound. Then the outputs of the preamp flow to the power amplifiers which increase the signal's strength to power the speakers.
Best regards, Ken

ben62670

cheif pontiac wrote: »

...Just a warning not everyone is on here to help, many seem to post out of boredom and will criticize you or just tell you to send them the equipment. The best thing is just to ignore them because they think they are at the top of the pecking order and are always right.

Way to go chief. There are many that have spent a lot of time helping people so sometimes the responses are short and to the point. When someone says just send me the equipment that is humor not an insult. Ease up Chief. If you don't like it here there are plenty of other forums for you to visit.
Cheers
Ben

jessicadunn

Oh, I also have a McCormack Micro Phono Drive.

jessicadunn

MCCORMACK MICRO PHONO DRIVE


THRESHOLD T3 PREAMP ABOVE TUNER

SAE MARK XXXI AMP

ben62670

Nice gear you have there

jessicadunn

HALO, the speakers are - composition overture model #OVTR-2 TYPE 331250.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
From the photos it looks as though someone has placed colored dots on the components. For example there is a yellow dot on the top of the tuner and a corresponding yellow dot on the preamp where the tuner connections should be made. There is also a blue dot on the outputs of the preamp and corresponding blue dots on the power amp's inputs. This could be a general guide.
Ken

[Deleted User]

The McCormack would only be needed if you want to play a turntable, it is a phono-preamp.

nguyendot

Are those 1/4" phono jacks on the SAE amp? (headphone looking jack) or do they look like the normal RCA jacks?

Based on the connections on the back, that Threshold T3 is a pretty nice preamp, with balanced inputs and outputs.

Anyways it goes like this.

Tuner, CD player, etc...anything that receives a signal or makes a signal goes IN to the preamp on the INPUT side (right side, it's marked off for you). It doesn't matter which one it goes into, they're all the same. Just remember which is which so you can choose later.

The PHONO unit is for you to use a turntable - most cannot jack directly into a preamp. The turntable would hook into this, then out into the preamp on one of it's inputs.

From the preamp - you would hook up the OUTPUT to the SAE INPUT. (only one set of cables, you don't need to use both outputs)
From the SAE Amp you'd hook the OUTPUTS to the speakers! (left/right speakers)

Like someone said earlier, it's a flow - signal flows from your cd player / tuner / whatever, goes to the preamp (selector box/volume control), then goes to the amp, and then that powers the speakers.

Let me see if I can find a good diagram, they're so much better than words.

halo71

That's some nice gear Jessica! A friend of mine use to own that model Infinity's.



Nice job to Ken.

jessicadunn

yeah! I got it! you guys rock. I was so afraid to just to take out all the cables and start over. Ill be enjoying my night with some music thanks to everyones help. Thanks for the info on the phono drive i had no idea what that was for.

jessicadunn

Maybe not, Im getting a little voltage/shock when I touch the the level button.

George Grand

Does it keep shocking you after the initial discharge?

If it's a one time deal as you walk up to the equipment to adjust it, don't sweat it. Maybe find something else to discharge yourself on before you touch it.

jessicadunn

Yep, keeps shocking.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
As a test, try removing all of the cables that are coming into the Threshold except for the AC power cord. See if you get the same results with the volume control.
Ken

jessicadunn

its not as bad, and then I plug it all back, and it currents me again. Its a pretty significant current.

jessicadunn

this may help, the power cord for amp has a current when I touch it. Its kinda old and brittle, could that be the culprit? I think I may need to bring it to a repair shop, since only one output is working. Can that be fixed?

ben62670

Where is your location. A lot of good people here that may be able to help you out.
Ben

jessicadunn

sarasota, florida

ben62670

I don't remember any Polkies off the top of my head that live there.

jessicadunn

Well, it was a long shot. Thanks for all the help

messiah

jessicadunn wrote: »

Well, it was a long shot. Thanks for all the help

Just replace the power cord, it's not a big expense, and well worth a try.