B&K pre amp problem?

SLOCOOKN

I have a B&K avp 1030 feeding 2 adcom gfa 55 mk2 breathing little life into sda 3.1tl. My problem is that i have to turn to volume from 90db (on the B&K display) to 35 before i get any real volume of sound . Even at 00db not very loud for 600 per channel. no sound at lower volumes. I contacted B&K no help.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

SLOCOOKN

SLOCOOKN wrote:

I have a B&K avp 1030 feeding 2 adcom gfa 55 mk2 breathing little life into sda 3.1tl. My problem is that i have to turn to volume from 90db (on the B&K display) to 35 before i get any real volume of sound . Even at 00db not very loud for 600 per channel. no sound at lower volumes. I contacted B&K no help.

ANY SUGGESTIONS?

update: I have disconnected sda's unbriged one amp and running a pair of bookshelf jbl ridgelines. same problem. not much volume...not sure what to do?

dkg999

Not familier with that AVP, however is there a menu that let's you adjust the speaker level for the front mains? Also check the cross-over freq for the front mains, if you are crossed over at 120hz the low sound level might be due to lack of lower frequencies. Just a couple of things to check. Good Luck and welcome to the forum.

SLOCOOKN

Thanks, I did a factory reset and set to large on srs and small on jbl. no change.

ohskigod

If I guage it the same way my Outlaw pre/pro is in my theater. I have to go to -35 to get any real volume, but it gets pretty loud as I get to -10. Might just be the way the preamp is. its hard to get used to when your used to a regular preamp where going close to 12:00 can be earsplitting volume.

it really might just be the design of the preamp. how high does it go after 00db. +10?, +20?

make sure it doesnt have a mute button anywhere, myDad's onkyo reciever had one that muted -20db's.

do you have another source to try?, I would be stunned if it was the source causing the problem, but eliminating a possibility via troubleshooting is never a bad thing.

SLOCOOKN

There is also a menu option that lets me increase + or - 10 speaker level and input level from imput sources. If i increase this level would that cause distortion (sp?)? and at 600 or even 200 wpc why would it seem muted?

ohskigod

dont guage the lack of volume by amplifier power. it doesnt mean it will be as much louder at a certain db setting on the pre, more powerful amps just have more reserve power if called upon, especiially at higher volumes. as long as there isnt a mute button on or something, turn the B&K until you reach a desired level.

like I said, I have a feeling that is just the way that pre/pro is.

ohskigod

SLOCOOKN wrote:

There is also a menu option that lets me increase + or - 10 speaker level and input level from imput sources. If i increase this level would that cause distortion (sp?)? and at 600 or even 200 wpc why would it seem muted?

check and make sure its not on -10. if it is, just go to 0 or +10 and give it a try. start at a low volume for testing obviously, and see what it does. it wont increase distortion. just treat the volume knob like you would any other system, just dont crank it to distortion or clipping levels (although clipping a 600 watt amp would be pretty hard )

SLOCOOKN

ohskigod,
That was my concern. This is my first preamp system. it goes to -20. I did not want to push it for the fear you mentioned of the 12:00 ledge in the all in one componets. It is still the same symptom on tuner. Thanks.

SLOCOOKN

ohskigod,
I will turn up the imputs and see if that helps. I will have to do this later tonight.
Thanks for the advise,
Steve

danger boy

my Outlaw 990 pre amp has to have the volume raised pretty high for me to get any volume out. it begins at -76 until i reach about -40 there is nearly no volume level out of it at all.

While watching digital cable broadcasts.. i usually have the volume set about -30 to -22 for DVD movie watching i have to raise it to about -20 to -13 for two channel music to get pretty decent sound levels.. i have to raise it to about -10, but usually not any higher.

I think the volume on the Outlaw goes from -76 to + 10

SLOCOOKN

My Pre is a B&K. As this is my first pre amp set up my inital fear of the foresaken 12:00 edge seems not to be applicable to the pre amp set up. HMMMMMM. I will play some more with imput adjustments and test the results..

Feel free to give more advise though..always willing to try it out and learn something in the process!

ohskigod

about the same for my 950 Al. I have a feeling this is just the way the B&K is, more than an actual problem. it wierded me out a bit when I got the Outlaw, but I got used to it, at least knowing that I could reach the volume level I want, just at the highest levels the pre/pro had, where on other pre's, you at like 12:00 or something. even though any higher would cause distortion, thats just what I was used to back then, hence it took me some time to get used to the outlaw.


SLO, I got a feeling when you change those settings, its going to help alot.

VR3

Normal B&K design

SLOCOOKN

At Last!!! Cd Imput +5, Volume Up To +4 From -90 And Neighbors Came Over And Wanted To Listen. Very Happy . Thanks For The Great Advise!!!!!