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Do I need a Preamplifier

Hi,

I am a novice in Home Audio setting up. I recently purchased a HK3480 Stereo Receiver, and Two Klipsch SB2 speakers to rig up my home audio setup. My CD Player is a cheap cyberhome entry level DVD player. I, like most of us have lots of digital music. It is stored on my computer, as well as on my MP3 Player (Creative Zen 30GB). I use a headphone Jack to RCA cable to hook up my MP3 player to my receiver. It sounds pretty good except for the fact that I need to crank up the colume to -25db to get good output. Also when playing from CD (Whose gain is set to max) I need to set the volume levels to -35db.

I would like to know whether I need to buy a preamp for this kind of setup.

Thanks
Boni
bonigopalan4ad6
bignerd100
515 posts
 
Receiver=amp, preamp, tuner
Integrated Amp=amp and preamp only
Preamp=audio switching with either active or passive volume control
Phono Preamp=increases very weak signal from phono cartridge to usable voltage for a preamp to further amplify

Check the volume setting on your MP3 player. When You are dealing wiht multiple gain stages (volume on MP3 player, volume on receiver) you can get teh two out of whack easily. The numbers displayed on the receiver mean little. This is a number relative to unity gain in some gear and a number relative to nothing in others. The slope of the volume control is different from component to component.

Good luck!
snofun3
601 posts
 
Your receiver already has a preamp (preamp, amp and tuner make up a receiver).
First - check the volume on your MP3 player - my kids have to max theirs out to get decent gain to play through an audio system. If the MP3 won't go louder, either resign youself to using a louder volume level, or get another one with more output.
mcfarland
356 posts
 
The MP3 player probably has a low output. Try plugging the MP3 player into the MM phono inputs on your reciever/ or better yet "tape-HEAD" inputs on your receiver, if available. The standard "tape" input is a "high level input" so that choice would probably result in the same outcome you are already experiencing. Plugging into the MM phono stage or another low level input (such as tape HEAD) would probably give you the gain you want.
bonigv
19 posts
 
Hi,

Very informative inputs. I do get good results by increasing the volume. I have a bad feeling of setting the output volume to max on the MP3 player. Neverthless I am doing that. Music quality is excellent i n my standards.

I tried with Phono inputs. That seems to put the preamplification to a different gear alltogether. However, my ears feels that the bass is a too high when I am routing the music through Phono. I need to do some more listening to see whether it is just an illusion. If you all, my learnt friends know of anything in this direction please let me know.

Also, I see some devices which can amplify a headphone jack output to line level. Do they work ?

Thanks
Boni
snofun3
601 posts
 
Bonigv - Bring the output on your MP3 volume up until you hear distortion (if you do). You're better off amplifying that output than getting all the excess noise by trying hard to amplify a smaller signal (volume turned down).
DO NOT use the phono input for two reasons.
First the gain in that input will be absurd, and you'll overload the amp input, distorting quickly.
Second, the phono input uses the RIAA equalization curve for vinyl, so your input to the amp section will really be screwed up with all kinds of EQ you don't want.
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