Pioneer Spec 4 VU meters-right meter is a bit lazy

[jojo0416]

The right meters of my Spec for is a tad lazy, prolly .05watt. I know this does not present the actual power my amp is putting out and mostly eye candy. I can equalize it by raising the gain control around 2 notches my question is can this be calibrated?

How do I measure the speaker outputs power just to make sure the 2 channels are more or less balanced?

 

[zebulon1]

 

[zebulon1]

There are CD's with a 1kHz tone you could use.
The 34 volt output, would put the amp in a high power condition. Note: There's no load attached.
I think you could halves it? But using the service manual procedure you can see if there's other issues.

Using a voltmeter and a constant signal you could compare the two channels looking for differences in power and meter calibration.
Who knows what channel is incorrect?

 

[jojo0416]

Thanks so much Zebulon1, you are right I don't know which channel is correct

 

[markthefixer]

Remember, the meter is a (internally curved) AC VOLTMETER, reading out in Watts, adjusted ("calibrated") upon the assumption of an 8 ohm resistive load.

AND your CHANNELS will NOT have identical output voltages with the same input.

When people start to get "picky", ALL KINDS of interesting (and SHOCKING to noobs) stuff pops out of the cat's bag.

 

[merlynski]

 

[jojo0416]

Remember, the meter is a (internally curved) AC VOLTMETER, reading out in Watts, adjusted ("calibrated") upon the assumption of an 8 ohm resistive load.

AND your CHANNELS will NOT have identical output voltages with the same input.

When people start to get "picky", ALL KINDS of interesting (and SHOCKING to noobs) stuff pops out of the cat's bag.

Thanks Mark for chiming in, did no mean to confuse other people .
I guess I should have said "adjusting the meters" as "calibration" is too technical of a word.

I just went over the manual (sorry I must admit never read the manual as I am more of a visual learner). I will inspect the unit tonight see if the needles rest to zero and will solve my inquiry. The above representation is not difficult to do will try too and test tones are downloadable.

 

[jojo0416]

So I did the above adjustment per post # 2. I think it is important for an owner to do this adjustment if their unit has been refurbished as in my case, not because the meters not balanced but knowing the sweet spot of the Spec 4 gain controls.
Before the above exercise below are my settings on the Spec 1 and Spec 4 for a comfortable listening.
Otherwise the sound is shrill or loud and forward not comfortable at all.

Spec 1
Attenuator: -15
Volume control 1 to 2 notches/clicks up from the minimum
Spec 4 gain control: 18 (that is also 2 clicks from the minimum.

In doing the above adjustment

I set the Spec 4 's gain controls to 10
Attenuartor to zero
I adjusted the 1Khz test tones inputs to .show 34V in my AC voltmeter (not 34V though, the reading is oscillating from .32 to .36 while the test tone is playing), if I bring up the gain control to maximum the voltage reading is 1V+, so I did my adjustment on 10.

After the above, I can listen comfortably on my system with the volume on the spec 1 at 8 to 9 o'clock, attenuator at zero, and gain controls on the Spec 4 at 10.

I hope I am making sense, and also the meters are now dancing in the right manner, not one lagging behind the other.

 

[Bimmerb5]

I went to adjust the right meter with right input of 1kHz @ 1V, AC meter attached to right output and nothing attached to the left channel. I noticed that the left meter is moving in unison with the right even though no input signal to the left channel. The left volume is turned all the way to the left. How is that possible?

 

[jojo0416]

I went to adjust the right meter with right input of 1kHz @ 1V, AC meter attached to right output and nothing attached to the left channel. I noticed that the left meter is moving in unison with the right even though no input signal to the left channel. The left volume is turned all the way to the left. How is that possible?

Hi, Sorry I haven't been here in a while. Is your amp connected to a Spec 1? There is a mode selector switch in the Spec 1, make sure it is set to stereo and not L+R.