Atom preamp out very low signal level

Posted by: Braincase on 25 January 2018

Would like to connect another integrated amp (analog) off the Atom's preamp output. Unfortunately, the signal level is extremely low and unusable for this purpose as is. Is there a way to trim this up?

Posted on: 25 January 2018 by J Saville

Being a pre-amp output, the output level will vary depending on the volume selected on the Atom. So you will need to max out the volume on the Atom to get 'line-level' volume into the integrated amp. 

Posted on: 25 January 2018 by Braincase

Thanks. Am familiar with the typical setup having run this way before. Something not right here, though, as the Atom at normal listening levels produces barely enough signal at the preamp out to allow for another integrated to reproduce more than a whisper even at nearly full gain. Certainly not a problem for my 272 in the same configuration. Is there no setting I can adjust on the Atom? Cheers.

Posted on: 25 January 2018 by Richard Dane

That doesn’t sound right. Could it be a connection problem? 

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by Braincase

Thanks for the suggestion. Have troubleshooted all other aspects including cables - can only be low output from the Atom. This unit was converted from 230V to 115V. Could that be part of the problem? 

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by ChrisSU

In the Atom's audio settings, is the maximum volume set to 100? I think the default setting is lower, which might not be helping you.

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by Alley Cat
ChrisSU posted:

In the Atom's audio settings, is the maximum volume set to 100? I think the default setting is lower, which might not be helping you.

Yes default is 85 - it does sound better on 100 using internal or external power amp to me on the Nova.  Adjust in the Naim app Settings for the device to see if it helps.

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by Braincase

Thanks. Changing the max volume setting had no effect on preamp output level. Still barely audible.

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by james n

What cable are you using and what amp are you connecting the Atom to ?

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by Braincase

RCA to RCA. Atom to Linn Classik. Same result with different cables, different inputs on Linn. Confirmed Linn works nominally using another source connected to Aux input. There is some signal coming out of Atom which I can hear with my ear to the speaker so I know there is a connection being made. Its just ridiculously low level.

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by hungryhalibut

When I had a SuperUniti there was a setting to enable the analogue output. Maybe the Atom has something similar. 

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by james n
Braincase posted:

RCA to RCA. Atom to Linn Classik. Same result with different cables, different inputs on Linn. Confirmed Linn works nominally using another source connected to Aux input. There is some signal coming out of Atom which I can hear with my ear to the speaker so I know there is a connection being made. Its just ridiculously low level.

Very strange - apart from the mention in the manual regarding the preamp output following volume and balance controls, no other mention about preamp output settings. Sound like an email to Naim support would be in order. 

Posted on: 26 January 2018 by audio1946

simple back to dealer