NAD326BEE way too loud

PrazVT

Yeah - it feels like the amp is oversensitive to the remote volume commands - at least from 0 - audible. I have a harmony remote that I did pair w/ the NAD when I first got the amp, but since I stopped using it I can't recall if remote performance was different. I'm house sitting for my parents right now, so I can't check. But I will the next time I stop by my place.

jon s

jon s wrote: »

I have the same issue with a vintage Sony STR-V7 receiver. Unfortunately, the volume control is a stepped Alps attenuator. I am using the amp to drive a pair of very inefficient (85dB/watt)Magneplanar 2.7QRs... The volume control starts at about 7:00 o'clock and the speakers are really rocking at the 9:30 position. The steps in that volume range is set at 7dB per click and drops to 5dB per click at the 9:30 position (it drops further to 1-2dB past the 11:30 position). So the volume adjustment is very course.

To compound the issue, previous Sonys had a mute button which reduced the volume by -20dB, which would have been great in my case, the volume control would fall in the 12:00-1:30 range for 1dB increments). But in this model, the mute does exactly that, it disables all sound.

I had this receiver hooked up to a pair of Polk LSi15s, I could not get the volume past 8:30 or 9:00 before the volume gets screaming loud. BTW, the amp section is rated for 150 watts per channel x 2, both channels driven into 8 ohms. At 4 ohms, it goes to 220 watts. This sucker is huge and weighs over 50 lbs.

WHOA!! This is really weird. The text in the posting shows the word "stepped" twice in the first sentence. When I tried to edit it, the word "stepped" is only shown once... Like in the quote here. glitch.

pyrocyborg

Is it possible that the V-DAC acts as a pre-amp to an already pre-amp equipped integrated amp, further increasing the volume to an abnormally loud level?

I'll try connecting an old sony CDP tonight, but I think the problem isn't the PS3.

heiney9

pyrocyborg wrote: »

Is it possible that the V-DAC acts as a pre-amp to an already pre-amp equipped integrated amp, further increasing the volume to an abnormally loud level?

I'll try connecting an old sony CDP tonight, but I think the problem isn't the PS3.

It shouldn't. Most stand alone dac's output a slightly higher signal going out than in. Not sure if this is true with USB, but it shouldn't affect it like you are describing.

H9

dudeinaroom

Not too familiar with NAD, but does that thing have sensitivity adjustments for inputs? Did you normalize your media library at some point? <The second one here sould not have that much of an affect though. Does the v-dac have a variable output.

pyrocyborg

dudeinaroom wrote: »

Not too familiar with NAD, but does that thing have sensitivity adjustments for inputs? Did you normalize your media library at some point? <The second one here sould not have that much of an affect though. Does the v-dac have a variable output.

Visually, there is nothing on the NAD, either front or rear, which could help adjust input sensitivity.

As for the media library normalizing, it was never adjusted, so I guess it's at a normal level.

As for the V-DAC, I don't think there is a variable output. It's plain and simple, without any knob (except the USB/toslink-coax input switch)

SDA1C

I read about this in a different forum. I can't seem to find it now but ultimately the guy changed the ratio of turns on the knob to the amount of input. Somehow with resistors I think or maybe a circuit redesign. I wish I could find it but its out there if you wanna search for it.

SDA1C

Search "volume pot taper" and see what you get. I found some stuff but not the one I read before. It was very detailed. You'll have to sift a bunch of guitar stuff but ...

heiney9

Just what he need's, a band-aid, as in another thing in the audio chain. :rolleyes:

SDA1C

What are you talking about heiney?

tonyb

His problem seems to be in the volume pot itself. Don't know if thats a problem exclusive to Nad or not, but worth a call to them to find out.

SDA1C

tonyb wrote: »

His problem seems to be in the volume pot itself. Don't know if thats a problem exclusive to Nad or not, but worth a call to them to find out.

That's what i'm thinking. Sometimes stuff just happens and it could have a faulty pot. Chase it for months and it it just needs a new one.

http://nadelectronics.com/parts-service

cnh

heiney9 wrote: »

Soemthing isn't right here. Is your complaint that it's difficult to modulate the volume when using the remote control? As in everytime you increase the vol using the remote it jumps large increments? If so, some remotes are like that and it takes practice to learn how to do it.

Or, is it loud when you barely turn the vol knob manually as well? If that's the case and the PS3 is your source that could be the issue. I doubt it has anything to do with the integrated amp itself, but rather what/how the source is used.

H9

This may be part of the problem. I have the previous model and the remote control tends to boost the volume too quickly, whereas if you go over and use your hand you can adjust it with more finesse. The volume tends to react "very" quickly to the remote commands so it is sometimes hard to get very low sound from it. But mine does not go to ear bleeding levels at 9. That's comfortable. But I'm also powering a more difficult speaker in the LSis. More efficient speakers tend to get reasonably loud at 9 and I can rarely go above this setting without getting very loud. These NADS just have great dynamic power and you have to adjust to that.

There may be other factors as noted above as well!

cnh

pyrocyborg

cnh wrote: »

This may be part of the problem. I have the previous model and the remote control tends to boost the volume too quickly, whereas if you go over and use your hand you can adjust it with more finesse. The volume tends to react "very" quickly to the remote commands so it is sometimes hard to get very low sound from it. But mine does not go to ear bleeding levels at 9. That's comfortable. But I'm also powering a more difficult speaker in the LSis. More efficient speakers tend to get reasonably loud at 9 and I can rarely go above this setting without getting very loud. These NADS just have great dynamic power and you have to adjust to that.

There may be other factors as noted above as well!

cnh

Well, I guess it has something to do with the efficiency of the RTi line. As I can read everywhere else, NAD remote are flawed in that exact same way : too much gain with a single pressure. However, I can get a listenable level with the knob... I guess we'll have to be carefull when we use it unless I get less efficient speakers.

heiney9

Polks aren't any more efficient than a typical speaker. 89dB isn't all that efficient, so that's not the issue. All sorts of people have been using the same stuff you are without an efficiency issue.

NAD and Polks are normally a great match. In your case, for some reason, it's not working to your satisfaction.

H9

Oldfatdogs

I hope you get things sorted out with your new nad.I have been using a Harmony 650 remote with the nad 751 it works very well.

pyrocyborg

I tried with another CDP, this time connected directly to my NAD... still as loud.

Maybe it's my room disposition, as it's a somehow confined area :S...

Tried with my universal remote, still moving too far with each push, but that's a non-issue as I can still use the knob. However, the fact that I must maintain it at 8 o clock to be at an "okay" level is kinda turning me off.

So..... I guess it's just the way it is. Maybe I'll need some 85 or 86 dB speakers :S

Tony M

I would think NAD is a good Co. concerning customer issues. Get ahold of them asap. Make it right.

pyrocyborg

Tony M wrote: »

I would think NAD is a good Co. concerning customer issues. Get ahold of them asap. Make it right.

I asked them, they didn't answer yet but I gotta give them the weekend.

Stew

I had the same issue with an NAD C370 with a CD player. The C370 has two sets of preamp outs - one with a sensitivity adjustment. I used the one with an adjustment and turned it about 1/2 way down. Issue solved.

As someone already mentioned, you might consider a separate preamp. I am currently using the amplifier portion of the C370 with a Dared SL-2000a preamp. No problem with volume sensitivity and huge improvement in sound quality.

pyrocyborg

Stew wrote: »

I had the same issue with an NAD C370 with a CD player. The C370 has two sets of preamp outs - one with a sensitivity adjustment. I used the one with an adjustment and turned it about 1/2 way down. Issue solved.

As someone already mentioned, you might consider a separate preamp. I am currently using the amplifier portion of the C370 with a Dared SL-2000a preamp. No problem with volume sensitivity and huge improvement in sound quality.

Would probably be the best idea... but not budget wise :P

I will try new speakers, more laid back or neutral than the RTI.

I would say that right now, I'm getting used to the amp I guess. When listening TV/bluray, it's great as volume isn't that louder with every "step".

For music, I gotta adjust it with the knob, not a big deal... and yeah, music is somehow better even at low volume, fuller at higher volume, so far it's great.