Polk Xrt12 XM Tuner Problem

bytesiz

I have recently installed a Polk Xrt12 XM Tuner. This was an upgrade from the Dephi Sky-Fi unit that I was using. I disliked the output level of the SkyFi.. it was very low compared to my other components. One of the primary reasons for upgrading to the Xrt12 was to get better analog output levels. The Xrt12's output seem exactly the same as my SkyFi! The outputs are very low. I've change inputs of my preamp and have even switched preamps. The result is the same, the analog outputs are very low.

Anyone have any idea why the Xrt12 has these low outputs?

Aaron

[Deleted User]

Hello Aaron,
Thanks for using the Forum. I'm not sure why you're having difficulty, the tuner produces 1.5 Volts RMS output. That's on a par with just about every other high level source I can think of. Most power amplifiers have a 1 to 1.5 Volt input sensitivity, meaning the tuner could drive any amplifier/receiver to full rated output. Are you sure you haven't turned the output levels down via the menu? This is covered in page 9 of the owner's manual.
Regards, Ken

bytesiz

Kenneth Swauger wrote:

Hello Aaron,
Thanks for using the Forum. I'm not sure why you're having difficulty, the tuner produces 1.5 Volts RMS output. That's on a par with just about every other high level source I can think of. Most power amplifiers have a 1 to 1.5 Volt input sensitivity, meaning the tuner could drive any amplifier/receiver to full rated output. Are you sure you haven't turned the output levels down via the menu? This is covered in page 9 of the owner's manual.
Regards, Ken

I'm sure I've got the line level output on it's highest setting... and just to make sure, I reset to unit to factory defaults but still have the same results. Do I have an older unit or something? I have 3 bars of singal strength, I assume that is enough for full output?

I can look (and listen) again tonight and double check my settings and connections.

[Deleted User]

Hello,
The signal strength should be separate from the tuner's output level. Do you happen to know the input sensitivity of the input you have chosen? Are you using a high level input on your receiver?
Regards, Ken

bytesiz

Kenneth Swauger wrote:

Hello,
The signal strength should be separate from the tuner's output level. Do you happen to know the input sensitivity of the input you have chosen? Are you using a high level input on your receiver?
Regards, Ken

I'm using the "Tuner" input on my preamp (Rotel RC-1070). The input sensitivity is 150mV/24K Ohms.

Thanks for helping Ken.

Aaron

amulford

does the receiver have digital inputs? Maybe try that...

bytesiz

amulford wrote:

does the receiver have digital inputs? Maybe try that...

No this is an analog preamp. To do that, I would have to purchase an external DAC.

audiobliss

By no means am I able to answer your questions, but through reading this I keep wondering what other sources you are comparing the XRt12's outputs with. Also, what exactly do you mean they're low? Is the volume just lower when you switch from one source to the XRt12 so you have to turn up the volume? Or is it more severe? Do you have to turn the preamp up to '11' to make it sing at all?

bytesiz

audiobliss wrote:

By no means am I able to answer your questions, but through reading this I keep wondering what other sources you are comparing the XRt12's outputs with. Also, what exactly do you mean they're low? Is the volume just lower when you switch from one source to the XRt12 so you have to turn up the volume? Or is it more severe? Do you have to turn the preamp up to '11' to make it sing at all?

Good question. My other primary source is a Sony CDP-555ES CD Changer. It plays considerably louder at the same volume knob position than the Xrt12. For example, I would typically play a CD at the 9 o'clock postion on the volume knob. To get the same output from my system when using the Xrt12, the knob would need to be around 11 o'clock. I tolerated this with my SkyFi and upgraded to the Xrt12 to get rid of this nuisance only to find the output about the same as the SkyFi

bytesiz

A bit more testing this evening shows me that everything is fine with my Xrt12. A combination of using a "loud" CD and a quiet XM station (Bluesvill) made the tuner output sound low. However, a change in CD and a different station makes the tuner's level sound very close to my CD player.

Thanks to eveyone for your help.:cool:

audiobliss

Glad it turned out to be a simple 'problem'.

DAMCB

I have my Xrt12 connected by a digital optical cable to a Denon 3805 rcvr and the volume is quite a bit louder than the other inputs even when the tuner output level is set to the minimum. The sound quality is a huge improvement over the Ski-Fi with analog connections I was previously using.

bytesiz

DAMCB wrote:

I have my Xrt12 connected by a digital optical cable to a Denon 3805 rcvr and the volume is quite a bit louder than the other inputs even when the tuner output level is set to the minimum. The sound quality is a huge improvement over the Ski-Fi with analog connections I was previously using.

Interesting.

I don't think the tuner output level adjustments will make any differenence when using the optical output.

I wish preamp and receivers could have adjustable input sensitivty. :cool:

steveinaz

Output level in the menu doesn't effect the digital outs, you're right.

The lower output level you are experiencing is NORMAL. It's the nature of the format; try channel 20, it has quite a high output--some do, some don't, but I've found the output to be about the same as my DVD Player (with the Xrt max'd out for output in the menu). The Polk tuner has higher output than any of the 3 XM tuners I tried, without a doubt.

XM needs to get it's stuff together, both quality wise and output level wise; the Polk tuner is really held back by the transmission quality of XM. I've emailed XM on several occassions with complaints about sound quality, to which they never respond. I'm very close to cancelling my subscription.