- Aug 10, 2019
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Is it bad for my integrated stereo amp to be permanently set to 100% volume in my AV setup? (Might it degrade sound quality and/or damage the amp over time?)
I have recently introduced a dedicated stereo amp for music into my HT system. My main left and right speakers are now connected to my stereo amp (an Arcam A85), which receives left and right channel inputs from the pre-outs of my AV receiver (a Yamaha RX-V1600) when watching movies, TV, etc. The A85 allows the 'pass through' volume gain to be fixed so that the volume for all 5.1 channels can still be controlled from my AV receiver.
However, I am finding that in order to produce enough volume out of the left and right speakers, I need to fix the volume on the A85 very high. For instance, if I listen to a CD with my CDP directly connected to the A85, I will listen at between -60dB (late evening) to -35db (which is pretty loud). To achieve the same volume with soundtracks coming through the Yamaha AV receiver, I need to set the A85 to at least -10dB (and still crank up the Yamaha receiver much louder than I used to when it was directly connected to all the speakers). I presume this is because the pre-outs from the Yamaha are 'quieter' than the line-out from my CD player (Does anyone know if it is possible to boost these?)
Are there any issues/disadvantages with fixing the volume on my A85 at its maximum level?
(Note that you can use the A85 as a power amp only, which seems to solve the volume problems above. However, using as a power amp is a universal choice for ALL the inputs, not just my AV receiver. This solution is therefore no good for me because I need the pre-amp part of the amplifier for my other stereo inputs such as my CD player (which was the whole point of buying a separate stereo amp in the first place)!)
Thanks in advance for any advice...
I have recently introduced a dedicated stereo amp for music into my HT system. My main left and right speakers are now connected to my stereo amp (an Arcam A85), which receives left and right channel inputs from the pre-outs of my AV receiver (a Yamaha RX-V1600) when watching movies, TV, etc. The A85 allows the 'pass through' volume gain to be fixed so that the volume for all 5.1 channels can still be controlled from my AV receiver.
However, I am finding that in order to produce enough volume out of the left and right speakers, I need to fix the volume on the A85 very high. For instance, if I listen to a CD with my CDP directly connected to the A85, I will listen at between -60dB (late evening) to -35db (which is pretty loud). To achieve the same volume with soundtracks coming through the Yamaha AV receiver, I need to set the A85 to at least -10dB (and still crank up the Yamaha receiver much louder than I used to when it was directly connected to all the speakers). I presume this is because the pre-outs from the Yamaha are 'quieter' than the line-out from my CD player (Does anyone know if it is possible to boost these?)
Are there any issues/disadvantages with fixing the volume on my A85 at its maximum level?
(Note that you can use the A85 as a power amp only, which seems to solve the volume problems above. However, using as a power amp is a universal choice for ALL the inputs, not just my AV receiver. This solution is therefore no good for me because I need the pre-amp part of the amplifier for my other stereo inputs such as my CD player (which was the whole point of buying a separate stereo amp in the first place)!)
Thanks in advance for any advice...