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Post by gentlejax on Dec 20, 2018 18:29:45 GMT -5
im using XLR cables out to my amp. seems like it take a lot of volume to get loud. wondered if this dac is strong enough for my amp. being a pro amp I would think so.
its not the amp cause I have tried on 2 different amps. I read you are not supposed to go over 0.00 volume and I have only 1 time. but I have never maxed out anything.
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Post by Boomzilla on Dec 20, 2018 18:33:10 GMT -5
between one and two volts if I remember right, but this is NOT a reliable factoid.
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Post by emofrmcgy on Dec 20, 2018 18:40:06 GMT -5
Pro amps usually need more voltage than home "audiophile grade" amps. Do you have gain knobs on the amp ? If so just bump your gains a bit.
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Post by Gary Cook on Dec 20, 2018 19:39:43 GMT -5
Commonly XLR (balanced outputs) are around +4.8 volts and -4.8 volts. The DC-1 XLR (balanced) outputs are what Emotiva describe as "pro level" (ie; +6db), which is logical since the DC-1 was designed for use in pro level environments.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by garbulky on Dec 20, 2018 21:17:59 GMT -5
^^^what he said.
You CAN go over 0.00 but you may get some clipping of the preamp signal. NOt a big deal. If you are sending the music from a PC make sure you have already turned up the software volume to max.
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 20, 2018 22:06:30 GMT -5
not using a pc at the moment. I am using a dvd player optical out. its not so bad with that but when I run the optical out off my apple tv(temporary) the volume is low and it seems like I can max that out easy. I need to look at the amp and see if there is any gain adjustment on it. but at the same time my adcom I tested resulted in the same lower output . when I had the pt-100 it seemed to be much louder at any volume over 1/2 . so that is why I wonder what my output is on the DC-1 I have been using PRO amps for a while until now. the PT-100 seemed to drive my crown K1 just fine which is a pro amp. now it seems like I have lost that volume.
if not mistaken my amp has a switch that says xlr or rca and I am pretty sure I selected xlr as I never tested it with rca
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Post by Gary Cook on Dec 20, 2018 22:50:01 GMT -5
not using a pc at the moment. I am using a dvd player optical out. its not so bad with that but when I run the optical out off my apple tv(temporary) the volume is low and it seems like I can max that out easy. I need to look at the amp and see if there is any gain adjustment on it. but at the same time my adcom I tested resulted in the same lower output . when I had the pt-100 it seemed to be much louder at any volume over 1/2 . so that is why I wonder what my output is on the DC-1 I have been using PRO amps for a while until now. the PT-100 seemed to drive my crown K1 just fine which is a pro amp. now it seems like I have lost that volume.
if not mistaken my amp has a switch that says xlr or rca and I am pretty sure I selected xlr as I never tested it with rca
Apple TV’s have digital volume control, make sure it’s on max. Otherwise you will loose both volume and quality (a side effect of digital volume control). Cheers Gary |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 21, 2018 7:22:13 GMT -5
ill have to double check that.
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Post by garbulky on Dec 21, 2018 11:19:41 GMT -5
not using a pc at the moment. I am using a dvd player optical out. its not so bad with that but when I run the optical out off my apple tv(temporary) the volume is low and it seems like I can max that out easy. I need to look at the amp and see if there is any gain adjustment on it. but at the same time my adcom I tested resulted in the same lower output . when I had the pt-100 it seemed to be much louder at any volume over 1/2 . so that is why I wonder what my output is on the DC-1 I have been using PRO amps for a while until now. the PT-100 seemed to drive my crown K1 just fine which is a pro amp. now it seems like I have lost that volume.
if not mistaken my amp has a switch that says xlr or rca and I am pretty sure I selected xlr as I never tested it with rca
That's not normal. The PT-100 and the DC-1 actually have very similar output levels nearly identical. I know because I used them both and used them in a level matched comparison. You may be having a phase problem as I mentioned. Run the phase test I linked above. But if you are hitting 0 db and getting sufficient volume you are allright. At that point it should be noticeably loud. |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 21, 2018 13:47:30 GMT -5
ive been messing with audio electronics for 36yrs . I know how to wire up speakers . its not a phase issue. at this point it appears its my amp that needs more. I will find out come monday when the PT-100 arrives.
I know this DC-1 goes to +20 but I dont like going that far. maximum volume usually sounds like crap. not true on the dc-1 but I still wonder if its working normal. and correct. the DC-1 is going to Emo for service on the face asap.
it would be nice if more people chimmed in on how their dc-1 works in relation to the volume.
thanks again garbulky..i know you are trying to help.
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Post by Gary Cook on Dec 21, 2018 14:45:23 GMT -5
Like many Emotiva devices the DC-1 uses a digitally controlled resistor ladder volume control, which means the actual volume control is analogue, so no loss of sound quality.
From the DC-1 manual;
I note that you haven’t reported a volume difference between channels just an overall low volume. It would be fairly unusual for both channels volume output to be affected by, say, exactly the same fault in both resistor ladders. Not impossible but unlikely.
Have you tried using RCA interconnects in lieu of XLR’s, that would rule in or out the differential circuitry?
My best guess is still low digital volume input.
Cheers
Gary
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Post by garbulky on Dec 21, 2018 15:53:25 GMT -5
ive been messing with audio electronics for 36yrs . I know how to wire up speakers . its not a phase issue. I'm not saying you don't know how. I don't really know people's experience. However even after years of doing this we can all make mistakes. I make these mistakes all the time! Also which could be the case if your speakers have bi amp terminals the jumper may have fallen out or one of the bi wires come loose. For me, it's more likely to be the case that user setup errors in either hardware or software are more likely the case for the kind of things you are describing. If not, then it's likely that your DC-1 may need to be checked for an actual problem by Emotiva. |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 22, 2018 9:07:44 GMT -5
okay. I swapped out the dac with the $49 chines tube preamp and the lack of volume and bass has gone. not saying the dc-1 isnt working like its supposed tobut half volume from the tube pre is louder than the dc-1 at 0.0.
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Post by foggy1956 on Dec 22, 2018 10:50:33 GMT -5
okay. I swapped out the dac with the $49 chines tube preamp and the lack of volume and bass has gone. not saying the dc-1 isnt working like its supposed tobut half volume from the tube pre is louder than the dc-1 at 0.0. Did you ever measure the voltage output of the dc-1? |
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Post by garbulky on Dec 22, 2018 10:53:24 GMT -5
The positions of the volume knobs do not have to match. However both should be able to drive your amps to full power or at least very loud levels. It sounds to me like the DC-1 isn't loud enough for you right?
The obvious thing is that at 0.0 volume the volume should be really loud at this point. At 0 volume the DC-1 outputs a pretty loud signal. It's very loud on CD music and reasonably loud (but not deafening) on movies. You'll notice as it gets close to zero the volume level ramps up much more. It's not a linear output, it's logarithmic. So the closer to maximum it is the volume jumps are much higher.
If it's not really loud and you mentioned there's some bass issue, then maybe you need to contact Emotiva to see if it's functioning correctly.
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stiehl11
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Post by stiehl11 on Dec 23, 2018 1:02:39 GMT -5
Setting my volume at -40 going through a BasX a-100 to a set of Phase Tech PC-1.5 bookshelf speakers there's not a whole lot of anything coming out of them. The bass is there, but at that low of volume it's not pronounced. I would recommend either some sort of equalizer to boost your bass at this low of level or add a small sub to help with low-level listening. Edit: -40 is so low the auto detect on the a-100 shut off as it wasn't detecting enough signal to stay on. |
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Post by stiehl11 on Dec 23, 2018 1:03:31 GMT -5
At single digits on the DC-1 I'm getting good chest thumps with the bass in my (small) room. At or near 0 it's too loud to enjoy (110 db give or take in room; well into hearing damage levels).
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Post by stiehl11 on Dec 23, 2018 1:12:00 GMT -5
ive been messing with audio electronics for 36yrs . I know how to wire up speakers . its not a phase issue. at this point it appears its my amp that needs more. I will find out come monday when the PT-100 arrives. I know this DC-1 goes to +20 but I dont like going that far. maximum volume usually sounds like crap. not true on the dc-1 but I still wonder if its working normal. and correct. the DC-1 is going to Emo for service on the face asap. it would be nice if more people chimmed in on how their dc-1 works in relation to the volume. amp is a wyred4sound ST-500 class D ice powered 250rms x 2 . speakers are polk RTiA9's. @ -50 I just start hearing the sound to where I can actually tell its good . -40 is minimum if I plan on actually listening to it. and its not loud at all. like my son can watch his tv 30ft away I'm not understanding: are you running the DC-1 at -50db, -40db, 0.0db, or +20.0db? As I mentioned earlier (and re-posted in this thread) -40.0 isn't enough signal to keep the 50 watt functioning when set to auto-on and there's very little volume. Maybe you could quantify "loud" by using a decibel meter from your listening location (and how far you are from your speakers)? |
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Post by gentlejax on Dec 24, 2018 0:04:39 GMT -5
I did not measure the voltage. dont know how to but if I did sure would have. I have listened to the dc-1 at all levels on the volume up to 0.0 where I was worried I might damage something. it wasnt loud but it is more than 3/4 volume. -40 is pretty much where I begin to hear the sound..maybe -50 .. The dc-1 is on its way to Emo already so they can fix my blotchy display and I have asked them to check the output. it may be fine and it may be one of those preamps that dont play any loud volume until you are 3/4 and more into it. I have had one like that before. My 2nd Pt-100 will be here tomorrow and I will see if it is any better since I am told they are similar. When I Had my last pt-100 I wasnt running the same amp.
I am less than 10ft from the speakers if I am sitting down.
I dont sit there and blast the stereo that close but at times when I am working in the house I do turn it up so I can hear in other parts of the house. ive had more than a dozen preamps and AVR;s and processors and I have seen the difference in various volume controls. I know they are not all the same and the volume on one is going to be different on the other. but It really seems like this one has to really be near max. just want to know its normal. I believe the amp needs around 1.2 volts
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Post by garbulky on Dec 24, 2018 2:54:22 GMT -5
I did not measure the voltage. dont know how to but if I did sure would have. I have listened to the dc-1 at all levels on the volume up to 0.0 where I was worried I might damage something. it wasnt loud but it is more than 3/4 volume. -40 is pretty much where I begin to hear the sound..maybe -50 .. The dc-1 is on its way to Emo already so they can fix my blotchy display and I have asked them to check the output. it may be fine and it may be one of those preamps that dont play any loud volume until you are 3/4 and more into it. I have had one like that before. My 2nd Pt-100 will be here tomorrow and I will see if it is any better since I am told they are similar. When I Had my last pt-100 I wasnt running the same amp.
I am less than 10ft from the speakers if I am sitting down.
I dont sit there and blast the stereo that close but at times when I am working in the house I do turn it up so I can hear in other parts of the house. ive had more than a dozen preamps and AVR;s and processors and I have seen the difference in various volume controls. I know they are not all the same and the volume on one is going to be different on the other. but It really seems like this one has to really be near max. just want to know its normal. I believe the amp needs around 1.2 volts
The Dc-1 can easily provide that voltage. RCA line out is 2V and XLR output is something like 4 V at 0.00 volume at 0 db output if I'm not mistaken |
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