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Post by gentlejax on Aug 21, 2020 7:42:46 GMT -5
Just installed a PT-100 in the system. Running Pro Crown amps (XTi2000 & XLS2000) . I run the signal from the PT-100 to a pair of APHEX converters which then changes from RCA to XLR outs. I run from the APHEX balanced to the amps.
I have prior only had to run 1 of the aphex boxes cause I had a pair of XLR outputs direct on the pre but with the PT-100 I there are no XLR outs.
I noticed right away the volume on the PT-100 is much louder much sooner . I am wondering if I need the aphex at all . With my Proceed AVP2 reference is 76 and max is 90 and it gets loud at about 60 with the aphex for only my sub. The XLR output of the AVP2 is strong so no box needed.
I havnt gone past 25 and its already a little fairly loud on the PT-100 so I know I can go down on the gain settings on the APhex boxes. I think I read output from the PT-100 is 4volts max. I really dont want to have to go all the way to max..lol...
other preamps that I have had if I made it to max I felt cheated if it wasnt like blasting me out of the room loud..so at the moment I feel there is no problem getting full power out of my crowns and I can actually dial it down to where I want it to be and not ever have to max the volume out to reach full power.
curious what others are doing running pro amps. I know its ok to roll to max but at same time I never like to do so. but I do know the difference between the sound of my amps when they are or arent getting enough voltage input to make power.
I just hooked up the PT-100 last night and only played music about 1/2 hour then switched to tv and fell asleep.
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Post by garbulky on Aug 21, 2020 9:21:08 GMT -5
Don't worry about where it is on the dial. That's just a gain thing. Some preamps get louder earlier than others. It has little to do with which one is more capable or more powerful but the way the preamp is configured. Almost all preamps can provide all the power you need to use. In fact the higher up the volume you go on a preamp, the lower distortion you have because your sound to noise ratio - SNR gets better. This is because most preamps never get to the "preamp" part. They receive a full volume signal and then they have to turn it down because otherwise it would be too loud. This causes the sound to noise ratio to drop. So the louder it is, the better the SNR and total harmonic distortion is - as long as it's within the preamps limits. The softer it is, the more distortion you will have in ratio to the signal. Either way the distortion levels we are talking about are far below what the human ear can hear in music listening so no worries either way.
So no issues rolling close to max unless you are a real party animal. Most people never reach the actual max on a preamp as you've already maxed out your speakers causing audible signs of speaker distortion long before the preamp can max out.
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Post by martindktm on Aug 21, 2020 21:23:06 GMT -5
In the past I was running a Pt-100 to a Vintage Bose 1801 monster amp... It sounded quite good.
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 21, 2020 23:28:14 GMT -5
For the XLS 1002 for instance the input voltage sensitivity to rated output is about .74 volts to near a volt and a half or so. So Balanced or Unbalanced output will easily get it done. Can't speak for the XLi but probably similar. Crowns are pretty accommodating.
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Post by boomzilla on Aug 23, 2020 4:46:37 GMT -5
I recently reviewed some speakers that just didn't sound dynamic (even at low volumes) without a LOT of power driving them. One of the combos I tried was the PT-100's DAC and preamp driving the "pro" Ashly FTX-2001 Series III amplifier (400 wpc @ 4 ohms). This combo had it all - good imaging, great dynamics, and a smooth, non-irritating treble. When I used the TA-100's internal 90 WPC amplifier, the dynamics of the speakers just collapsed.
What am I comparing the TA-100 with? I used a Black Ice Audio vacuum tube DAC ($899) with either the Audio-gd HE-1 preamplifiers ($1,900 / solid-state or $2,830 / tube) or a passive volume control pot into the Emotiva PA-1 power amplifiers ($600 / pair). The little BasX held its own most of the time. The "reference system" did sound slightly bigger in soundstage, and had more power. But the BasX TA-100 could nip at the heels of the reference system IF the speakers were happy with the TA-100's amplifier section. Of four speaker pairs tried, three were perfectly happy with the TA-100's 90 WPC.
So yes, you CAN use the TA-100 as a DAC/preamp combo with very good results. And on most of the speakers I've tried, the internal power amps of the TA-100 sound almost as good as using an external amp. In short, the BasX line (again) embarrasses a LOT of far more expensive equipment. How good, ultimately, IS the Emotiva BasX TA-100? I'm planning on keeping mine at at least until Emotiva comes out with their new DAC. And even then, I expect to keep the TA-100 as a backup DAC, Preamp, and Integrated. For the $400 purchase price, I've seen nothing even close in performance. But to GET the performance from the TA-100, you have to leave it on ALL THE TIME. Until it's fully warm, the sound isn't nearly as good.
Boomzilla
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Post by vcautokid on Aug 23, 2020 6:52:29 GMT -5
PA-1 or a Bas-X A300. Done.
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Post by pixel_entity on Aug 26, 2020 13:31:11 GMT -5
Yes, using the XLi 1500 with the gains set half-way (12 o'clock).
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Post by gentlejax on Aug 30, 2020 6:31:53 GMT -5
I recently reviewed some speakers that just didn't sound dynamic (even at low volumes) without a LOT of power driving them. One of the combos I tried was the PT-100's DAC and preamp driving the "pro" Ashly FTX-2001 Series III amplifier (400 wpc @ 4 ohms). This combo had it all - good imaging, great dynamics, and a smooth, non-irritating treble. When I used the TA-100's internal 90 WPC amplifier, the dynamics of the speakers just collapsed. What am I comparing the TA-100 with? I used a Black Ice Audio vacuum tube DAC ($899) with either the Audio-gd HE-1 preamplifiers ($1,900 / solid-state or $2,830 / tube) or a passive volume control pot into the Emotiva PA-1 power amplifiers ($600 / pair). The little BasX held its own most of the time. The "reference system" did sound slightly bigger in soundstage, and had more power. But the BasX TA-100 could nip at the heels of the reference system IF the speakers were happy with the TA-100's amplifier section. Of four speaker pairs tried, three were perfectly happy with the TA-100's 90 WPC. So yes, you CAN use the TA-100 as a DAC/preamp combo with very good results. And on most of the speakers I've tried, the internal power amps of the TA-100 sound almost as good as using an external amp. In short, the BasX line (again) embarrasses a LOT of far more expensive equipment. How good, ultimately, IS the Emotiva BasX TA-100? I'm planning on keeping mine at at least until Emotiva comes out with their new DAC. And even then, I expect to keep the TA-100 as a backup DAC, Preamp, and Integrated. For the $400 purchase price, I've seen nothing even close in performance. But to GET the performance from the TA-100, you have to leave it on ALL THE TIME. Until it's fully warm, the sound isn't nearly as good. Boomzilla Funny you mention the Ashley amp as I have run those multiple times. they are very good old A/B amps and they weight a ton. they are cheap as ramen noodles and I loved them. only reason I am not using them is because I was afraid I was going to break my glass shelves on my rack and because I wanted less drain on my electrical.
ive now got a couple of XLS2500 in their place.
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