different reference level after changing power amp

dear Chris,

i used to have for my main 3 speakers (LCR) 2 pa amps (crown xls 1500) after changing them for 3 mono tube amps (140watt each) the reference level changed.

with my old set up i used to have 105db at 0. now i am having 105db at -6db from my avr(onkyo 876).(in the same scenes)(without the use of the subs)

i want to mention that i am not using dynamic eq and the test tone from the avr is 75 db as it was with my old set up.

can you explain me what is happening? is it because of the headroom of the amps?

thanks in advance

Μιχάλης

michalis -
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4 Comments

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  • 0
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    Audyssey Labs

    Dear Μιχαλη,

    Measuring SPL with content from a scene is not very accurate.  It's best to do this with the internal AVR test signal playing from each speaker individually.  I presume you ran MultEQ again after changing the amps--they probably have different gain than the original amps.

  • 0
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    michalis

    thank you Chris,

    the internal avr test signal from each speaker is 75db as it was with the previous setup.

    yes, i ran again the multi eq.

    i used a spl meter so to verify what my ears was telling me.

  • 0
    Avatar
    Audyssey Labs

    If the internal test signal measures correctly then the system is calibrated for level.  Are the speaker levels that Audyssey found the same as the old ones?  I suspect they are not.  That would mean that the new amp has different gain than the old amp.  It's not related to headroom--just gain.

  • 0
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    michalis

    the speaker levels are different with the new amps, are much less. 

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