Help settle an argument...

[admin_exported]

2 mates are arguing about CD player/amp setups.

Person 1 says: Set the CD players volume level up to max, therefore the amp has to do less work and there will be less distortion.

Person 2 says: Set the CD player volume to somewhere in the middle (its 'natural' position?) and let the amp do the rest like it was built to do.

Which setup will get the best sound?

I'll tell you if I was person 1 or 2 once we get some opinions in!

 

[matengawhat]

i've never altered the volume on a cd player but i would go with person 2 - amps sound at there best when they are made to work - not to their extremes but agian the middle ground - so lower input more work for amp to do better sound

 

[nads]

my CDP's all out put at a line level setting.

IE there is no opertunity to change the output level.

 

[Tear Drop]

Set the CD volume at a lower setting so you can actually use the volume attenuator properly, set volumes accurately for each recording and have a far more natural, unforced sound.

 

[Anonymous]

Where should I be looking for a volume control on my CD player?

 

[Tear Drop]

David Aston:Where should I be looking for a volume control on my CD player?

Every time I have ever encountered a CD player with internal volume control it has been on the remote control.

 

[Anonymous]

What you are talking about here is 'Gain levels' on your CD Pre Amp stage if it has one.
Many do not.

The trick is to set the gain level by ear to the point below which ANY distortion shows up, and then bring it down a touch to give the Gain stage some headroom in which to work.
A area around 7/10ths works well in most cases I have found.

Your amplifier then is working with a undistorted stronger signal so will be more likely to be in its 'sweet spot' area even when it is being worked hard.

Just my opinion of course, but it works for me.

 

[Anonymous]

Some CD players do allow you to change the output levels, some don't.

Anyway I was person 2, so Matey owes me a rather large beer.

Thanks for the input people.

 

[up the music]

I'm pretty much with trevor79. Set the volume of the CDP a notch below clipping it's signal on peaks. The amp is then fed with a fairly high level. I think this should result in a higher overall signal to noise ratio.
My experience of working with bedroom DJ's in clubs tells me that full level CDP output can clip the amps input signal and sound nasty. Much will depend on how much gain the CDP gives though, a CDP without much gain might be happy ran at full volume. An amp with balanced inputs will usually handle handle higher input signals too.

 

[Anonymous]

up the music:I'm pretty much with trevor79. Set the volume of the CDP a notch below clipping it's signal on peaks. The amp is then fed with a fairly high level. I think this should result in a higher overall signal to noise ratio.
My experience of working with bedroom DJ's in clubs tells me that full level CDP output can clip the amps input signal and sound nasty. Much will depend on how much gain the CDP gives though, a CDP without much gain might be happy ran at full volume. An amp with balanced inputs will usually handle handle higher input signals too.

Agreed.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply Tear Drop. Have just popped downstairs, found the remote for my old Meridian, and can absolutely confirm there is a volume control! No batteries in it, and in fact hifi turned off, so no idea if it works. Will certainly aim it at the gear in due course and see if anything happens! (Might possibly only work if Meridian amplification used.)

I don't know if this will relate to the opening question, but my Cr-7 cassette deck does have volume controls and since 1985 I can't tell if maxxing those, and using minimum amp volume, or some sort of reverse situation, makes any difference to the sound quality.