32-5 Input Sensitivities

Posted by: Ian.B on 09 February 2001

There is a marked difference in loudness between my cd (CDI) and tuner (101+snaps) inputs through my 32-5 pre-amp. Both inputs have 328/1 boards fitted with the sensitivity pot adjusted to fully clockwise. The cd is connected to the tuner input and the tuner to the aux input (with a Chord Chrysalis 4-pin DIN to BNC lead). The cd is much the louder so much so that it is impossible to attain high volume levels when listening to the tuner.
Can anyone throw any light on this problem?
Thanks
Ian
Posted on: 09 February 2001 by Mike Hanson
It wasn't clear to me whether you have tried the tuner in the CD's socket, and vice versa. What about switching the boards internally? If none of these process of elimination tricks makes it clear, then I suggest you send it to Naim for a service. While you're at it, tell them to replace the 328 boards with straight through boards.

-=> Mike Hanson <=-

Posted on: 10 February 2001 by Ian.B
Mike/Sproggle(!)

...the tuner in the CD socket - it improved a little. I shall try swapping the boards over tonight - see if that makes a difference.

Are both the CD and Tuner considered high level sources and if so what kind of level are they compared to a low level source?

Cheers
Ian

Posted on: 10 February 2001 by Andrew L. Weekes
Ian,

CD and tuner are often referred to as 'high level' sources, this is relative to the low outputs of a phono cartridge.

CD though will always be much louder than the tuner, since the specification for full output from CD, is 2V, the tuner's output will be lower than this, probably less than 1V under most conditions.

One of the things I really like about my NAC112 is the ability to adjust the level of each input independantly, without degrading sound quality. It overcomes those shocks when changing from phono to CD!

Andy

Andrew L. Weekes
alweekes@audiophile.com

Posted on: 10 February 2001 by Ian.B
>>CD though will always be much louder than the tuner...

Maybe there isn't a problem afterall although the difference is quite marked.

Can pre-amps be recapped/serviced like power supplies and amps?

Cheers
Ian

Posted on: 10 February 2001 by Mike Hanson
CD though will always be much louder than the tuner, since the specification for full output from CD, is 2V, the tuner's output will be lower than this, probably less than 1V under most conditions.

Actually, 2V versus 1V will produce only double the power output, which should be only 3dB of audible difference. 3dB is the considered by many to be the minimum difference in volume that someone would observe as "louder".

-=> Mike Hanson <=-