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Volume Question - Continued
Hey 2-channel and HT people,
The saga continues: I get great sound and volume on my 2-channel listening but when I switch to movies and run my pre-amp in Passtru mode, using the surround processor, the volume is MUCH lower. Sound quality is still great. More details below. Setup Surround processor: MX122 Pre-amp: C2600 Amps: 601's Source: Oppo 205 or Xbox One X Speakers: B&W 802D Results When listening to 2-channel audio, it's heaven. Any volume between 30-45 is very loud and satisfying. When switching to movies mode, where the MX122 is in control and the C2600 is in Passtru, I need to crank the volume to 80 to get a satisfying result. I feel like I want it to be even louder at times and would raise it to 90. I thought that something might be wring with my MX122 and called McIntosh to confirm. They were pretty amazing: they replicated my setup in their demo room and performed the same test. They got back to me reporting that they got the exact same result. 30-44 on the C2600, 80+ on the MX122. They could not explain why it was doing that but only that this is pretty much by design. They suggested to crank the volume up to 98 if I wanted/needed to. I just don't understand why is there such a difference between the 2-channel and surround setups. Why does the MX122 lower the volume so dramatically? Is there a way to improve it? I get so much more robustness when I just use the C2600. Thank you! |
#2
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Not unusual I would think.
When you use the MX122, think of it is a its own preamp. It does its own thing which requires a certain volume level etc. One think you could do is to be sure you go thru the MX122 menus and adjust the speaker settings to make sure you get adequate volume. You could do this by running the Audessy routines using the supplied microphone etc or get a sound meter/smart app meter and do an actual manual test tone of all speakers being used setting the sound level to 75db or so at the main listening position. As for me, my C500t is usually set at 36-40 and my Marantz PrePro usually is at 80 or so.
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Analog Sources: Oppo 203, Oppo 105, DirecTV, AppleTV 4K, Roku Ultra, Nvidia Shield Digital Sources: Aurender W20 via USB and dual XLR, dCS Rossini and Clock HT Processor: Anthem AVM90 PreAmp: Audio Research Ref 6 Amp: ML 536 (2), Rotel 1552 (3), Rotel 1585 Speakers: Focal Maestro EVO, Focal 1000 Utopia Center, Focal 1000 IW6 side/rear surrounds, Focal 1000 IW6 X4 Ceiling, Rel G2 X 2 subs, Martin Logan 1500 X 2 subs, B&W 805D2 in master bedroom Video: JVC NZ8 Projector Power: Shunyata Everest, Sigma XC (1), Sigma NR (1), Sigma Analog (2), Alpha HC (2), Alpha Digital (2), Alpha Analog (1), Viper(1), Venom Digital(1) Cables: Shunyata Anaconda SC, Anaconda IC (2), Shunyata Sigma USB, Shunyata Sigma XLR X 2, Shunyata Sigma Ethernet, Shunyata Clock Alpha X 2, Sigma x 1 |
#3
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Quote:
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#4
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What's feeding the MX122? Cable box?
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#5
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For the life of me considering all your other equipment, why do you have a MX122 and not a MX160?
RoomPerfect alone would make it worthwhile. Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#6
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Hey there,
Oppo 205 for DVD playback and access to my video server and also Xbox One X for gaming. |
#7
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Quote:
When I bought the 122 I did not really understand what we’re the differences between them. The sales rep could not tell me much and I ended with the 122 which supports everything the 160 does in terms of surround audio formats. There was also a substantial price difference so I never pursued it. Do you think that the room correction on the 160 would make a difference in volume? |
#8
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Quote:
To me Audyssey always sounded slightly muffled and had an echoing effect to it. RoomPerfect when done properly, has none of that and includes lots of voicing options. You made the comment "I get so much more robustness when I just use the C2600." I am confident the MX160 with RoomPerfect can fix that. Tell your dealer you are unhappy with the MX122 and maybe he will offer you a MX160 at a good price considering all the equipment you bought. Sorry, but I don't know the cause of your volume issue. I believe there are others here on AA that have a C2300 and MX150/151, so maybe they will chime in as that equipment should be similar in functionality. Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub Last edited by Poppyhome; 01-16-2018 at 01:21 AM. |
#9
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Just so you know my normal volume on the MX150 is 21-30 for TV and maybe 30-39 for movies should I choose.
Ron
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Ron Processor: McIntosh MX170, Amp: Legacy Audio i-V7, Digital: Benchmark DAC3B, Roon Music Player, Oppo UDP-205, Apple TV 4K, Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Analog: Gold Note Pianosa Turntable, Gold Note PH-10 Phono Preamplifier, Donatello MC Cartridge, Speakers: Legacy Audio Signature SE Natural Sapele Pommele, Silverscreen HD Center, JL Audio e112-Gloss Sub |
#10
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I concur
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Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
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