Hello again. I received this email this morning and here is a very clear explanation to the volume issue. I must say that the folks at PArasound are super quick to respond.
The P 6 and HINT 6 volume control and Zpre 3 and 200PRE mapping results in turning the volume to a higher number for all sources.
70 or higher is typical.
The number has nothing to do with the % of the maximum possible volume.
Please note that relative to the displayed Volume Control indicator:
VOLUME DISPLAYED INCREMENTAL CHANGE in dB
0-20 +/-2 dB increments from one displayed number to the next
21-60 +/-0.5 dB increments from one displayed number to the next
61-100 +/-1 dB increments from one displayed number to the next
The P 6 and HINT 6 volume setting may appear to be set higher than other stereo products you are familiar with. In particular stereo equipment that use a potentiometer for the volume control (like the P 5 and Halo Integrated) may seem to be playing louder at a relatively lower setting of the volume knob. This is because potentiometer based volume controls are usually based on linear voltage gains rather than based on the way humans perceive sound which is logarithmic. Most potentiometer volume controls have very little increase in loudness past the 1 o’clock position. The P 6 and HINT 6 volume scale works in dB (logarithmic) so the volume increases significantly all the way to the maximum of 99. In addition we have designed the P 6 and HINT 6 to have finer adjustments in the middle of the volume range since this is where a listener would appreciate smaller (0.5dB) step. Generally all of Parasound’s products have the same maximum gain (~10dB) but the P 6 and HINT 6 simply get to that same maximum gain slower and gives the listener finer control over the volume level. Depending on the efficiency of the speakers and the type of music being played the typically “loud” listening range may vary anywhere from 60-90 which leaves plenty of headroom should you wish to listen even louder.
Let me know this helps you to better understand the VC implementation of selected Parasound products. I appreciate your curiosity.
Thanks for being a valued Parasound customer.
