zenarrrow
Well-Known Member
I got the best sound from them sitting on the floor.
Do you think I am not doing them proper justice with them on the floor?
I got the best sound from them sitting on the floor.
The best thing about this hobby is experimenting with the gear that you already have in an effort to get the best sound. To that end, you should try the speakers on the floor and then compare that to what you have at present. Let your personal preferences guide you to how your system is ultimately set up.Do you think I am not doing them proper justice with them on the floor?
Full-on gain settings with any these amplifiers is around 0.5 volt while the MX110 output is rated 2.5 volts
Yeah, no. Research the topic of gain overlap and you'll understand why. Caddy's explanation should get 90% of folks 90% of the way there. Keep in mind the MX110 will be a limiting factor in overall system noise whereas a modern preamp would be several magnitudes quieter.As I stated many people on both sides of this debate. I don't think there is a problem, as my amps seem to be pretty evenly matched with the gain. And using both methods I have found that so far this seems to be the best sound for me. It was explained to me and I understand it this way, take an ordinary ss SX 980 Pioneer stereo or an integrated amp, the amps will always be wide open, the preamps in those are what have the controls volume etc. The Mono blocks with gain on them are used when two or more are in a system and one has more gain than the other, which in that case one can turn down the gain accordingly. As I said, I am just starting here and will probably change my methods many times over. but this is working for me right now, as my amps seem pretty equally matched. And the distortion has disappeared.
Here is a quote or two from another forum on adjusting gain and on the MC30's.
"You may be thinking that gain and volume are the same things. They're not. Setting the amp's gain to full increases the sensitivity of the amp's inputs. Using the volume control on the preamp then makes use of the quietest part of the preamp's circuitry while at the same time getting full advantage of everthing (headroom, current, dynamic range, damping factor, etc., etc.) that the amp has to offer. Just as the manufacturer recommends: amp on full, preamp controls the volume. The amp will be more responsive, your preamp will be running in its ideal range, and I think you'll be happier with the sound."
". . . which is why the amp makers advise running their amps at full gain when using a separate preamp."
With that being said just as many statements in line with the way you advised as well.
Joe
Full-on gain settings with any these amplifiers is around 0.5 volt while the MX110 output is rated 2.5 volts. Should not need anything close to full on gain settings - especially with speakers as sensitive as the Altecs. Something does not sound right here.
Keep in mind the MX110 will be a limiting factor in overall system noise whereas a modern preamp would be several magnitudes quieter
. . . At times this set up is magical and a very sweet sounding system. Other times other recordings and the top end is falling apart. For instance jazz such as monks dream sounds really good , Sade Diamond Life amazing. But let's say Wilco jesus etc. Song in particular I feel that the top end is completely cut off. . .Joe
Unless you are clipping the MC30s when playing some of the recordings, it sounds like an issue with some of your recordings not your equipment. Audio distortions in poor recordings will be more apparent with higher resolution electronics.
I was thinking that too, maybe I was hearing poor recordings. But I play records with my wife and grown children, and they can hear it too.
Also, I play recordings I think I know are "good" such as pink floyd Meddle uk pressing and the s's are thin and sounds like my daughter stated like David gilmour had a walnut shell in front of his teeth where is tongue would touch his front teeth during the s's.
Please excuse my ignorance, but what is "clipping" ? I have heard the term before but never knew what it was.
Thanks, Joe
. . . Also, I play recordings I think I know are "good" such as pink floyd Meddle uk pressing and the s's are thin and sounds like my daughter stated like David gilmour had a walnut shell in front of his teeth where is tongue would touch his front teeth during the s's. . .
From Wikipedia: "Clipping is a form of waveform distortion that occurs when an amplifier is overdriven and attempts to deliver an output voltage or current beyond its maximum capability. Driving an amplifier into clipping may cause it to output power in excess of its power rating. . .
Personally I enjoy the Model 14