KidCrimson
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- Joined
- Apr 9, 2024
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Long time lurker, first time poster.
I recently received an Apollon amplifier to power my Philharmonitor BMRs. It's replacing a Bryston 4B.
My first impression is that it just isn't loud. At maximum gain setting, using the pre out of my Marantz 2230, normal listening volume is achieved around noon on the pot (for those unfamiliar, the pot goes from around 7 to 5 on the clockface). I had assumed it would be ear splitting by that point.
I also tried it with my Anthem TLP 1. Same result. I need to get much closer to maximum volume than I'd like. It measures volume from -80dB to 8dB. To hit my normal, reasonable, listening volume I need to approach -15dB on the dial. And again, this with the Apollon at max gain setting.
I compared it to a Fossi V3 (volume pot at maximum) I have kicking around, and at -20dB on the dial the volumes are similar. I had expected the Apollon to be MUCH louder at the same volume setting.
I reached out to Apollon with the same question and received back the below...
"Please note that your Anthem has 3Vrms output at maximum volume. Our amp has 24dB at highest gain setting with RCA connection. The Bryston has 29dB. This is why it is louder, because of different sensitivity settings on each amp. At full volume on your Anthem our amp should reach full power with rca and highest gain setting with 3Vrms."
While that makes some sense, I still can't fathom why it seems to output the same volume as the Fossi.
What am I missing? Am I just thick and the above makes perfect sense?
I recently received an Apollon amplifier to power my Philharmonitor BMRs. It's replacing a Bryston 4B.
My first impression is that it just isn't loud. At maximum gain setting, using the pre out of my Marantz 2230, normal listening volume is achieved around noon on the pot (for those unfamiliar, the pot goes from around 7 to 5 on the clockface). I had assumed it would be ear splitting by that point.
I also tried it with my Anthem TLP 1. Same result. I need to get much closer to maximum volume than I'd like. It measures volume from -80dB to 8dB. To hit my normal, reasonable, listening volume I need to approach -15dB on the dial. And again, this with the Apollon at max gain setting.
I compared it to a Fossi V3 (volume pot at maximum) I have kicking around, and at -20dB on the dial the volumes are similar. I had expected the Apollon to be MUCH louder at the same volume setting.
I reached out to Apollon with the same question and received back the below...
"Please note that your Anthem has 3Vrms output at maximum volume. Our amp has 24dB at highest gain setting with RCA connection. The Bryston has 29dB. This is why it is louder, because of different sensitivity settings on each amp. At full volume on your Anthem our amp should reach full power with rca and highest gain setting with 3Vrms."
While that makes some sense, I still can't fathom why it seems to output the same volume as the Fossi.
What am I missing? Am I just thick and the above makes perfect sense?