Help with new Marantz 5200!! Low output!

[Prav]

Hi,

I have just bought this big bad machine, and being a novice to HC, and finding a few things difficult.

My set up-

Mordaunt Short MS10i Classic fronts
Eltax H1(?) rears
Mordaunt Short MSC20 centre.
Sony 725 connected with digital coaxial

The problem is the output volume is low - I have to crank it to around -45db to get 'normal' sound levels - this is not only through DVD but thru' all inputs - radio, tv etc. I expected a larger volume at low levels? Can anyone suggest what the problem is? Are my speakers suitable - they should be as on a music amp. the volume is fine.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated


Prav

[Rizel23]

I duno bout your set up, but i usally listen to DVDs at -26Dbs and TV around the -30Dbs, so sounds OK to me. Rizel

[BobP]

On my 5200 -12dB is loud enough for DVD, -25dB for the Radio tuner. But the lower the dB rating displayed by this amp then the quieter things become, if "normal" for you is -45dB then surely that means your input level is actually too high?

[Justin]

Originally posted by Prav
Hi,

I have just bought this big bad machine, and being a novice to HC, and finding a few things difficult.

My set up-

Mordaunt Short MS10i Classic fronts
Eltax H1(?) rears
Mordaunt Short MSC20 centre.
Sony 725 connected with digital coaxial

The problem is the output volume is low - I have to crank it to around -45db to get 'normal' sound levels - this is not only through DVD but thru' all inputs - radio, tv etc. I expected a larger volume at low levels? Can anyone suggest what the problem is? Are my speakers suitable - they should be as on a music amp. the volume is fine.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated


Prav

Nothing at all to worry about, if anything you are running it at 45 to get "normal" sound then that seems to imply your MS speakers have higher then normal sensitivity (how much power needed to drive them). Bear this in mind to a tape deck display for recording, anything between "0" and "6" is classed as normal.
Put this into perspective, on my DSPAX1 driving BWs "normal" is about -35db.

Hope this helps

[Bapapapa]

-45db is perfectly normal.

My Yammy RXV1000 has to be cranked to around -30db before it starts to annoy the neighbours. :p

I think you've just been used to ***** amps where the volume range runs between normal at '9 o'clock' and full power at '12 o'clock'. :)

[AndrewJ]

I find on my 5200 that there is quite a difference in level between AV sources (particularly DVD) and CD/Tuner - leading to frantic grabbing of the remote when switching sources to get the volume down! Must admit when I first unpacked it and set it up I didn't think it was working due to assuming 0dB was gonna be full whack......

[Prav]

Originally posted by BobP
. But the lower the dB rating displayed by this amp then the quieter things become, if "normal" for you is -45dB then surely that means your input level is actually too high?

I thought it was the other way around? So -1db is annoying the neighbours loud whereas -70db is quietest.

Many thanks for the info - my speakers are 8ohm, so I understand it to need more juice (ie db) to reach suitable sound levels.

[BobP]

If anything I think you've seen from the replies that there's a wide range of values and that what's suitable for one setup may be different for another.

What I meant about the input level being too high is the strength of the signal going into the amp...it could either be yours is high or mine is low seeing that I consider -12dB normal. Remember minus values get smaller the higher they go so at -12dB the signal going into the amp is being output at roughly 4 times the amount it would be at -45dB - hence a lower input signal. That's provided what we consider a "normal" level is the same - I have quite forgiving neighbours and I do tend to like things loud :)

But as Justin points out it's all about speakers at the end of the day.