Volume Settings: AVR with Pre Outs to Power Amp

ChunkyTuna
ChunkyTuna Posts: 6
edited February 2014 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Greetings,

Hopefully, this is relatively easy, but, alas, I have not been able to find the info I seek.

After running the front speaker pre-outs from my AVR to a separate power amp, is there a way to get the volume controls on the AVR and power amp to unity so I would be able to run the system as a 4.1 with only minor twiddling of the volume knobs after switching from stereo?

Thanks for your assistance, and the other great info here.

Happy trails!

Keith
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited January 2014
    Power amps don't have volume controls. what are you using ? An integrated amp ?
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  • ChunkyTuna
    ChunkyTuna Posts: 6
    edited January 2014
    Oops.

    Yes, an integrated that will be used mostly for power to the fronts, but also has some phono attachments to get old school.

    And whatnot...
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    edited January 2014
    Does the integrated have an HT pass thru?
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  • ChunkyTuna
    ChunkyTuna Posts: 6
    edited January 2014
    No, just for the fronts when used at 4 ohms.

    Four speakers and a sub out otherwise.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,647
    edited January 2014
    I don't see how that will work.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2014
    The Prima Luna website had a link on how to set up an integrated with no true HT Bypass for 'unity' gain when used in a combo HT/Music set up.

    If I remember correctly, it requires manual calibration of the integrated volume control with the other speakers being driven by the AVR, then marking where the volume control is set on the integrated when using the AVR preouts to drive the integrated.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Glen B
    Glen B Posts: 269
    edited January 2014
    ChunkyTuna wrote: »
    Greetings,

    Hopefully, this is relatively easy, but, alas, I have not been able to find the info I seek.

    After running the front speaker pre-outs from my AVR to a separate power amp, is there a way to get the volume controls on the AVR and power amp to unity so I would be able to run the system as a 4.1 with only minor twiddling of the volume knobs after switching from stereo?

    Thanks for your assistance, and the other great info here.

    Happy trails!

    Keith

    You need a power amp with input level controls that will allow you to adjust the input sensitivity. They are few and far between but you can find them if you look around. Both Parasound Halo and New Classic series amps, and Audiosource amps feature input level trim controls.

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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited January 2014
    F1nut wrote: »
    I don't see how that will work.

    It won't. You can maybe level match both volume controls at a set volume, but adjusting up or down won't be possible for both by the receiver.

    What speakers are you pushing with what receiver and amp ? Are you just trying to get 4 speakers to work of one unit ?
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited January 2014
    tonyb wrote: »
    It won't. You can maybe level match both volume controls at a set volume, but adjusting up or down won't be possible for both by the receiver.

    What speakers are you pushing with what receiver and amp ? Are you just trying to get 4 speakers to work of one unit ?

    I think you are right - but from Prima Luna's sight you can add an integrated w/o HT bypass - it does mean 'fiddling' with both the AVR and Int amp volume control for movies:
    http://www.primaluna-usa.com/support/tech-briefs/prologue-hometheater

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • ChunkyTuna
    ChunkyTuna Posts: 6
    edited February 2014
    Ok, so I did not abandon the boards!

    I wound up sending the integrated amp back and have an Outlaw 7125 on order. It should be delivered shortly and will give me a little extra boost. This is good as I have been itching to turn it up a bit on some music, but have been holding back on the volume control.

    The amp will be used for a set of Lsi25 and Lsi7's. I am thinking of picking up a set of Lsi9 speakers if they ever show up on ebay or the store as refurbished.

    I am really enjoying the speakers even as underpowered as they currently are. Very musical. I had a set of the Klipsch Synergy and just never found them be musical.

    Thanks for the assistance.
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  • BlueFox
    BlueFox Posts: 15,251
    edited February 2014
    caribbean-sales wrote: »
    .......ANYONE INTERESTED?

    Isn't this spam? At least it is Polk related. I am interested. Interested in seeing you banned.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited February 2014
    ChunkyTuna wrote: »
    Ok, so I did not abandon the boards!

    I wound up sending the integrated amp back and have an Outlaw 7125 on order. It should be delivered shortly and will give me a little extra boost. This is good as I have been itching to turn it up a bit on some music, but have been holding back on the volume control.

    The amp will be used for a set of Lsi25 and Lsi7's. I am thinking of picking up a set of Lsi9 speakers if they ever show up on ebay or the store as refurbished.

    I am really enjoying the speakers even as underpowered as they currently are. Very musical. I had a set of the Klipsch Synergy and just never found them be musical.

    Thanks for the assistance.

    Still, that Outlaw amp is on the light side for what you want to drive it with.
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  • ChunkyTuna
    ChunkyTuna Posts: 6
    edited February 2014
    Please explain. No rebuffing or huffing intended. Writing is sometimes hard to get the correct context, phrasing, etc. across.

    The 25's are 20-300 watts, so a little under max there, but the 7' s are 20-150, so a little over.

    I am not looking to run at max volume, but am more concerned with adequate headroom for regular and "mildly enthusiastic" volume levels.

    Thanks!
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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,563
    edited February 2014
    headroom is just not all there.

    Power Output: 7 x 125 watts RMS at 8 ohms, all channels driven from 20 Hz to 20kHz with less than 0.05% THD 7 x 190 watts RMS at 4 ohms, all channels driven from 20 Hz to 20kHz with less than 0.05% THD

    4ohm speaker @ 190 wpc be careful you will run out of steam quick. A truly good power supply will double down from 8ohm to 4ohm. So at 125wpc 8ohm would go to 250wpc 4ohm to 500wpc at 2ohm. 125wpc to 190wpc not much there.

    just be careful and don't worry about 20-300 speaker stuff more speakers are ruined by under powered than over powered because of the amp clipping the signal.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 32,981
    edited February 2014
    You mentioned adding the 9's in the mix as well. The 7's are an easier load.

    Those recommended watt ranges on speakers means little. 4ohm speakers thrive on current, the more amperes peak to peak the better. The Outlaw amp will work, just not as well as other more powerful options out there.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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