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My system doesn't know what low volume is. Here's

141.152.12.98
Posted on August 31, 2002 at 00:40:38
driver
 the deal: I have a Pass Aleph P that was completely reworked by Pass Labs including an upgraded transformer and rebuilt power supply. The lowest possible setting isn't just above a whisper, rather it's at regular conversational level. Depending on the CD it can be even louder than this.

The only other contributing factor I can think of is that I use a set of balanced cables from the CDP & another set to the amp. I like the way XLR's securely fasten & after seeing a broken plastic block that holds the RCA's in place inside of the CDP am even more convinced this is the way to go. I took a quick look at the specs & single ended vs. balanced is 10 vs. 20kOhms for input impedance. Can it make that much of a difference?

Anybody have any ideas or personal experience with this sort of thing? I'm not that concerned about it being a problem, rather wondering why it's like this.

 

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Re: My system doesn't know what low volume is. Here's, posted on August 31, 2002 at 04:19:40
Ozzy
Audiophile

Posts: 7588
Joined: September 21, 1999
 Another thing to consider is that your cdp probably has a higher output voltage in balanced rather than single ended mode. Sometimes on the order of a 1v difference.

Oz

 

It's more than impedance...., posted on August 31, 2002 at 17:07:24
Rod M
Web Geek

Posts: 16242
Location: So. California
Joined: March 1, 1999
Contributor
  Since: March 1, 1999
 Balanced connections have 6db gain versus going from single ended to a balanced input or vice versa. With 2 balanced connections, that's a 12db difference which can be perceived as over twice as loud at the same setting.

 

That was it Rod. I just put the RCA's back in to check. I, posted on September 1, 2002 at 11:35:17
driver
 thought back to when I first noticed this & I was on vacation for 10 days in Aug. When I got back I put the new XLR's in w/o listening to the RCA's.

Just proves how short audio memeory is. Thanks for the info.

 

Re: My system doesn't know what low volume is. Here's, posted on September 6, 2002 at 09:11:19
Roggiedog
Audiophile

Posts: 3
Joined: December 9, 2001
 I had an Aleph P and the first setting was pretty high on mine as well. If I lowered the left and right gain it was better, but there just wasn't a real low setting.

 

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