Adding an external amp to your receiver is a good idea

[ddude003]

Thanks. Thinking about all this. The question is will I be able to hear a difference going from a receiver. That's something only I can answer.

Could you hear a difference with a better Phono Cartridge? A better Phono Stage? It is true that only you, your ears, with your system and in your room can decide...

Find a place to buy what you want to buy with a trial period and little to no return fees... So you can listen with your ears, with your system and in your room and you can decide...

 

[Asere]

Could you hear a difference with a better Phono Cartridge? A better Phono Stage? It is true that only you, your ears, with your system and in your room can decide...

Find a place to buy what you want to buy with a trial period and little to no return fees... So you can listen with your ears, with your system and in your room and you can decide...

I could hear a difference with the new phono stage. Clearer voices and instruments. Could be the higher gain too. Although I turned the receiver phono up more when I did A/B tests between the avr and external phono amp. Still the lounge sounded clearer.
What's the usual gain on a receiver amp?

 

[ddude003]

I am not sure there is a "usual gain on a receiver amp"... THX certified is something like 29db and you may find less in receiver amps and more in pro amplifiers... I think what you may be looking for is what is the gain structure between an AVR PreAmp Out and a Standalone Stereo Power Amplifier... I can not emphasize this enough... Google and math are your friend...

 

[Asere]

I bought the hca 1500a a min ago. I'll see how it goes.

 

[JStewart]

I bought the hca 1500a a min ago. I'll see how it goes.

Nice amp. Congrats

 

[Asere]

Nice amp. Congrats

Thank you!

 

[Asere]

What is the best setting on the gain prior to running Audyssey? 12 o'clock knob line facing straight up? Im going to change it back to Max after calibration.

 

[Tony V.]

your receiver has built in pink noise, use that to set the level and then run Audyssey.

 

[Asere]

your receiver has built in pink noise, use that to set the level and then run Audyssey.

Good point thanks. I'll use that to get a good trim and after set the gain to max.

 

[ddude003]

From the Owner's Manual... "Each channel has its own rear mounted "set and forget" input level control. Your amplifier sounds best with these level controls set to maximum, where they are effectively out of the audio signal path. However, if your preamplifier has very high gain, and its volume control cannot track properly for left- right channel balance near its minimum position, it may be necessary to reduce the input level control settings on the amplifier. When using the HCA-1500A in a THX installation, each level control must be set at maximum, which corresponds to 0 dB THX reference level."...

Unless you have reason to believe that the AVR's PreOuts "has very high gain", I would set the THX level control to Maximum before attempting any additional signal processing like Audyssey...

To be more clear, you would have to look at your AVR specs to determine the Voltage Level of your PreOuts... If they are 1 Volt you then you want the TXH setting at Maximum... If the PreOuts Voltage spec is greater than 1 Volt you would need to adjust the THX settings to be less then Maximum...

 

[Asere]

From the Owner's Manual... "Each channel has its own rear mounted "set and forget" input level control. Your amplifier sounds best with these level controls set to maximum, where they are effectively out of the audio signal path. However, if your preamplifier has very high gain, and its volume control cannot track properly for left- right channel balance near its minimum position, it may be necessary to reduce the input level control settings on the amplifier. When using the HCA-1500A in a THX installation, each level control must be set at maximum, which corresponds to 0 dB THX reference level."...

Unless you have reason to believe that the AVR's PreOuts "has very high gain", I would set the THX level control to Maximum before attempting any additional signal processing like Audyssey...

To be more clear, you would have to look at your AVR specs to determine the Voltage Level of your PreOuts... If they are 1 Volt you then you want the TXH setting at Maximum... If the PreOuts Voltage spec is greater than 1 Volt you would need to adjust the THX settings to be less then Maximum...

Thanks. I've been reading the receiver manual. Are any of these the Voltage spec for the preouts? Sorry for the bad pic.

 

[ddude003]

Thanks. I've been reading the receiver manual. Are any of these the Voltage spec for the preouts? Sorry for the bad pic.

That page is not very clear about what is what... Can you please tell me what AVR Make and Model you are using so I can find some documentation on it?

 

[Asere]

That page is not very clear about what is what... Can you please tell me what AVR Make and Model you are using so I can find some documentation on it?

Thanks. From what I could tell on the receiver manual it should be the 1.2v under Analog section.
My receiver is Denon x4200w.

 

[ddude003]

Thanks. From what I could tell on the receiver manual it should be the 1.2v under Analog section.
My receiver is Denon x4200w.

Although the users manual is not real clear on PreOut voltage is does appear that output voltage of the Analogue Section is 1.2 Volts...

I would try setting the THX Level Controls to 75% to 80%... And I don't think Maximum would hurt anything, maybe some clipping at extreme volume levels which you may never actually want to reach...

 

[Asere]

Although the users manual is not real clear on PreOut voltage is does appear that output voltage of the Analogue Section is 1.2 Volts...

I would try setting the THX Level Controls to 75% to 80%... And I don't think Maximum would hurt anything, maybe some clipping at extreme volume levels which you may never actually want to reach...

Thanks I think I will try MAX first if it does not workout I will reduce it to trick Audyssey to lower the trim and then increase it back to MAX.

 

[Asere]

Can I use this cable for a 12v trigger? One side plugs into the avr trigger and the other end I will cut the end and split it in two to go on the hca 1500 since it has no plug just screws.

 

[JStewart]

Yes but you may not be able to tell + and - without a multimeter and don’t know if it could cause harm if connected backwards.

 

[Asere]

Yes but you may not be able to tell + and - without a multimeter and don’t know if it could cause harm if connected backwards.

Thanks per a parasound agent he said if I get the +/- crossed it won't turn on and just reverse them.
I just wanted to make sure this type cable would work. Per the denon manual for my receiver it mentions I need a manorual mini plug. This one connects to the denon just fine so long as I slit the end that goes to the parasound.

 

[Asere]

The other day I connected the Parasound to my x4200 receiver and I sounds really good this is without any calibration since I haven't had time for that. Yesterday however I did A/B comparison between the amps listening to movies and music and I concluded that both amps sound the same to my ears.

 

[Tony V.]

If you run all channel stereo and fairly loud you might hear a difference as that is when having the mains running off the amp will release the receiver from alot of it load.

 

[Asere]

If you run all channel stereo and fairly loud you might hear a difference as that is when having the mains running off the amp will release the receiver from alot of it load.

Thanks I haven't tried that but will later.

 

[Asere]

If you run all channel stereo and fairly loud you might hear a difference as that is when having the mains running off the amp will release the receiver from alot of it load.

I tried the multich and all sounded the same between the amps. Well not until I put it stereo mode that I noticed the mains didn't come on while connected to the Denon. I then connected them to the Parasound and Stereo worked. This could well explain why I noticed no difference. Possibly all the speakers on disguised the LR while watching movies and music and I thought it was on all this time.

 

[Asere]

Is there any benefit doing bridge mode? The amp has bridge mono option to double the power.