Parasound HCA 1206

[Pruccs]

First of all, thank you for your help.


Yes, I’m using the Denon purely as a preamp, with Audyssey calibration.


Originally, I set everything up by calibrating all channels to 75 dB at around -30 dB on the AVR, using REW, an SPL meter, and pink noise. This worked very well, and it felt like the Denon had more power and headroom.


Now, with the THX gain setting on the power amplifier, I have to turn the Denon close to its maximum to reach 75 dB.


There is no distortion or noise, everything sounds clean, but the gain structure feels very different.


Could someone explain what this depends on, and whether this is normal?

 

[john61ct]

Is it getting its signal from just one source?

What I do with power amps is, turn both the power amp input gain and the source device output volume to fairly mid-low.

Then slowly turn them both up , alternating a little at a time.

Once I get to the maximum I ever would want to hear*, I start turning the amp gain back down while the source keeps going up.

The goal being, full use of the source volume range, more precise control

and impossible to turn that up "too high".

* obviously stopping long before I hear any clipping / distortion

 

[Chrispy]

Suggest you use google translate to english, like this

"Hi, I would like to ask for your advice. I recently bought a Parasound HCA-1206 5-channel amplifier and it sounds fantastic. However, after calibration, when I set the gain buttons on the back to THX and calibrated with my Denon X3700 receiver, the sound became similar to before. I've been reading different opinions lately: some say that the THX position is the correct setting, while others say that it's better to leave the amp buttons around the 12-hour position. I would like to ask which setting is recommended and why? Thank you in advance, and have a nice day!"

Not familiar with that particular amp and looking at the manual there's nothing about the thx position, but does mention in level controls that they suggest you start with them set to maximum unless your pre-amp is very high gain and can't track left/right balance at low volume position settings.

How did you set level with the Denon avr? Used Audyssey? Or?

ps On the other hand, it should sound as before but perhaps have a bit more power and handling of lower impedance speakers a bit better.....what speakers does the amp power?

 

[Pruccs]

Suggest you use google translate to english, like this

"Hi, I would like to ask for your advice. I recently bought a Parasound HCA-1206 5-channel amplifier and it sounds fantastic. However, after calibration, when I set the gain buttons on the back to THX and calibrated with my Denon X3700 receiver, the sound became similar to before. I've been reading different opinions lately: some say that the THX position is the correct setting, while others say that it's better to leave the amp buttons around the 12-hour position. I would like to ask which setting is recommended and why? Thank you in advance, and have a nice day!"

Not familiar with that particular amp and looking at the manual there's nothing about the thx position, but does mention in level controls that they suggest you start with them set to maximum unless your pre-amp is very high gain and can't track left/right balance at low volume position settings.

How did you set level with the Denon avr? Used Audyssey? Or?

ps On the other hand, it should sound as before but perhaps have a bit more power and handling of lower impedance speakers a bit better.....what speakers does the amp power?

First of all, thank you for your help.





Yes, all channels are connected via pre-out in a 5.1 system with Focal Chorus 816V speakers. I haven’t experienced any distortion or crackling.





On the Denon volume scale, I can now raise the volume up to reference level, and that’s when it reaches 75 dB, as measured with an SPL meter.
Where the trim levels show more negative dB values, that corresponds to the THX setting on the power amplifier.


Where the sound is more balanced, the dB values are lower (less negative).

Thank you for your help.






I also calibrated the system using Audysse

 

[john61ct]

Gain issues can be complex, don't try for rules, ad-hoc is fine get it to work for you and your setup.

 

[Pruccs]

First of all, thank you for your help.


Yes, I’m using the Denon purely as a preamp, with Audyssey calibration.


Originally, I set everything up by calibrating all channels to 75 dB at around -30 dB on the AVR, using REW, an SPL meter, and pink noise. This worked very well, and it felt like the Denon had more power and headroom.


Now, with the THX gain setting on the power amplifier, I have to turn the Denon close to its maximum to reach 75 dB.


There is no distortion or noise, everything sounds clean, but the gain structure feels very different.


Could someone explain what this depends on, and whether this is normal?

 

[Pruccs]

Gain issues can be complex, don't try for rules, ad-hoc is fine get it to work for you and your setup.

Thanks a lot for your help!