Setup advice
 

Hello,

I recently acquired a pair of Dynaudio floorstanders and have inherited a
Primare A30.2 power amp. I have an old hand-me-down Denon AVR 3300 (used to
be top-of-the-line back in its day), which I am planning to use as a
preamplifier. At the moment, I'm using a cheap source - a Samsung DVD player
DVDHD870.

I am wondering whether I should I the DVD player's onboard DAC and run an
analogue interconnect into the Denon, whether I should run a Toslink cable
and let the Denon's DAC do the signal processing?

I'm planning to use this setup (at least until I can afford a good preamp
and source) primarily for stereo music and the occasional DVD. I'm not
planning to use any of the Denon's sound processing functions and am feeding
a Direct mode into the Primare.

Would appreciate advice.

Regards,
Schiz

Setup advice
 

On Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:39:11 -0000, "Schizoid Man"
wrote:

I recently acquired a pair of Dynaudio floorstanders and have inherited a
Primare A30.2 power amp. I have an old hand-me-down Denon AVR 3300 (used to
be top-of-the-line back in its day), which I am planning to use as a
preamplifier. At the moment, I'm using a cheap source - a Samsung DVD player
DVDHD870.

I am wondering whether I should I the DVD player's onboard DAC and run an
analogue interconnect into the Denon, whether I should run a Toslink cable
and let the Denon's DAC do the signal processing?

I'm planning to use this setup (at least until I can afford a good preamp
and source) primarily for stereo music and the occasional DVD. I'm not
planning to use any of the Denon's sound processing functions and am feeding
a Direct mode into the Primare.

Would appreciate advice.

You don't need advice, you need to try both. Does one sound
different/better than the other?

Setup advice
 

"Schizoid Man" wrote in message

Hello,

I recently acquired a pair of Dynaudio floorstanders and
have inherited a Primare A30.2 power amp. I have an old
hand-me-down Denon AVR 3300 (used to be top-of-the-line
back in its day), which I am planning to use as a
preamplifier. At the moment, I'm using a cheap source - a
Samsung DVD player DVDHD870.

I am wondering whether I should I the DVD player's
onboard DAC and run an analogue interconnect into the
Denon, whether I should run a Toslink cable and let the
Denon's DAC do the signal processing?

The Denon has digital processing that benefits virtually every input it
receives, whether switching or volume control, or EFX or speaker management.
You are unlikely to want to use the EFX, but that still leaves a number of
other useful functions.

It strongly appears from the user manual that all analog inputs are
digitized inside the Denon.

If you hook up a digital source via Toslink or coax, this digitizing step is
bypassed.

If you hook up a DVD player to any analog input of the Denon, then the
signal flow is

(1) Convert digital media to analog inside the DVD player.
(2) Convert analog to digital inside the receiver.
(3) Convert digital back to analog inside the receiver.

If you hook up a DVD player to a digital input of the Denon, then the signal
flow is:

(3) Convert digital back to analog inside the receiver.

I'm planning to use this setup (at least until I can
afford a good preamp and source) primarily for stereo
music and the occasional DVD. I'm not planning to use any
of the Denon's sound processing functions and am feeding
a Direct mode into the Primare.

I presume that means you are going to use the preamp outs of the Denon to
bypass the power amps in the Denon.

Would appreciate advice.

RTFM. I may have missed something.

http://www.usa.denon.com/avr3300_ownersmanual.pdf

Setup advice
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

The Denon has digital processing that benefits virtually every input it
receives, whether switching or volume control, or EFX or speaker
management. You are unlikely to want to use the EFX, but that still leaves
a number of other useful functions.

It strongly appears from the user manual that all analog inputs are
digitized inside the Denon.

If you hook up a digital source via Toslink or coax, this digitizing step
is bypassed.

Ok, I guess this is the way to go.

I presume that means you are going to use the preamp outs of the Denon to
bypass the power amps in the Denon.

That's correct. The Denon unit itself states that it's rated for 6 to 16
ohms, and the speakers I'm trying to drive are 4 ohms. I'm a bit concerned
about the high current load, so I'm using a separate power amp.

Setup advice
 

"Schizoid Man" wrote in message

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message
...

The Denon has digital processing that benefits virtually
every input it receives, whether switching or volume
control, or EFX or speaker management. You are unlikely
to want to use the EFX, but that still leaves a number
of other useful functions. It strongly appears from the user manual that
all analog
inputs are digitized inside the Denon.

If you hook up a digital source via Toslink or coax,
this digitizing step is bypassed.

Ok, I guess this is the way to go.

I'd try it first!

I presume that means you are going to use the preamp
outs of the Denon to bypass the power amps in the Denon.

That's correct. The Denon unit itself states that it's
rated for 6 to 16 ohms, and the speakers I'm trying to
drive are 4 ohms. I'm a bit concerned about the high
current load, so I'm using a separate power amp.

I wouldn't worry about it. Most equipment that is rated 6-16 ohms is just
fine with 4 ohm speakers. The 6-16 ohms thing is usually based on thermal
issues with resistive loads and continuous sine-wave operation. With music
and any well-designed speaker rated at 4 ohms or more, no problemo.

You've got a lot of options with the good choices you've made, and if you
have any concerns, you have ready means to investigate the alternatives.
This would include an analog connection to digital signal sources and the
use of an outboard power amp.

What I'm recommending is the simplest, easiest way that has a good chance of
also being the best sounding.

Setup advice
 

"Arny Krueger" wrote in message

That's correct. The Denon unit itself states that it's
rated for 6 to 16 ohms, and the speakers I'm trying to
drive are 4 ohms. I'm a bit concerned about the high
current load, so I'm using a separate power amp.

I wouldn't worry about it. Most equipment that is rated 6-16 ohms is just
fine with 4 ohm speakers. The 6-16 ohms thing is usually based on thermal
issues with resistive loads and continuous sine-wave operation. With
music and any well-designed speaker rated at 4 ohms or more, no problemo.

I've run into any small problem. The Denon unit is a US model so I need a
voltage converter to make it work in the UK. According to the manual, the
power consumption characteristics a
Power supply: AC 120 V, 60 Hz (for North America model)
AC 115/230 V, 50/60 Hz (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)
Power consumption: 5.6 A (for North America model)
320 W (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)

Does 5.6 A mean 5.6 amps? So given the volage is 220 volts, does the power
rating become 672 W (based on a voltage of 120V)? This rating seems very
high given that the consumption for the multi-voltage models is less than
half this amount, 320 W.

Would appreciate any pointers.

Schiz

Setup advice
 

"Schizoid Man" wrote in message
...
"Arny Krueger" wrote in message

That's correct. The Denon unit itself states that it's
rated for 6 to 16 ohms, and the speakers I'm trying to
drive are 4 ohms. I'm a bit concerned about the high
current load, so I'm using a separate power amp.

I wouldn't worry about it. Most equipment that is rated 6-16 ohms is just
fine with 4 ohm speakers. The 6-16 ohms thing is usually based on thermal
issues with resistive loads and continuous sine-wave operation. With
music and any well-designed speaker rated at 4 ohms or more, no problemo.

I've run into any small problem. The Denon unit is a US model so I need a
voltage converter to make it work in the UK. According to the manual, the
power consumption characteristics a
Power supply: AC 120 V, 60 Hz (for North America model)
AC 115/230 V, 50/60 Hz (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)
Power consumption: 5.6 A (for North America model)
320 W (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)

Does 5.6 A mean 5.6 amps? So given the volage is 220 volts, does the power
rating become 672 W (based on a voltage of 120V)? This rating seems very
high given that the consumption for the multi-voltage models is less than
half this amount, 320 W.


5.6A seems oddly precise. The power consumption of an A/V amp will vary
quite widly with the number of speakers connected, with their impedance,
with the level at which you drive them etc. So I wonder whether the "5.6A"
is in fact a typo.

Note that if your unit is a US model it's mains transformer is probably
intended for 60Hz operation only. Compared to a 50Hz or 50/60Hz transformer
it will have a smaller core and hence will be liable to overheating and
possible failure at 50Hz. I have had experience of a mains transformer in a
Denon AV amp failing (and that was a UK model), it didn't seems overly
generous in size for the loading.

David.

Setup advice
 

"David Looser" wrote in message
...

I've run into any small problem. The Denon unit is a US model so I need a
voltage converter to make it work in the UK. According to the manual, the
power consumption characteristics a
Power supply: AC 120 V, 60 Hz (for North America model)
AC 115/230 V, 50/60 Hz (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)
Power consumption: 5.6 A (for North America model)
320 W (for Multiple voltage and Taiwan R.O.C. models)

Does 5.6 A mean 5.6 amps? So given the volage is 220 volts, does the
power rating become 672 W (based on a voltage of 120V)? This rating seems
very high given that the consumption for the multi-voltage models is less
than half this amount, 320 W.


5.6A seems oddly precise. The power consumption of an A/V amp will vary
quite widly with the number of speakers connected, with their impedance,
with the level at which you drive them etc. So I wonder whether the "5.6A"
is in fact a typo.

Note that if your unit is a US model it's mains transformer is probably
intended for 60Hz operation only. Compared to a 50Hz or 50/60Hz
transformer it will have a smaller core and hence will be liable to
overheating and possible failure at 50Hz. I have had experience of a mains
transformer in a Denon AV amp failing (and that was a UK model), it didn't
seems overly generous in size for the loading.

Thanks for that, David. I'm planning to use it only as preamp, so am not
planning to connect any speakers at all - just two line inputs, one from the
DVD player and one from the Sky box.

Setup advice
 

In article , David Looser
wrote:
"Schizoid Man" wrote in message
...

Does 5.6 A mean 5.6 amps? So given the volage is 220 volts, does the
power rating become 672 W (based on a voltage of 120V)? This rating
seems very high given that the consumption for the multi-voltage
models is less than half this amount, 320 W.


5.6A seems oddly precise. The power consumption of an A/V amp will vary
quite widly with the number of speakers connected, with their impedance,
with the level at which you drive them etc. So I wonder whether the
"5.6A" is in fact a typo.

It may be some kind of 'max' rating for the purpose of indicating what kind
of requirements there are for fusing or leads, or for working out how much
of the current capacity of the house mains wiring arrangement it should be
assumed to demand for safety purposes. May also therefore be a 'peak' value
not rms. Only guessing though as I have no idea how they obtained the
value, or what the current pun :-) USA regulations may be for this.

Slainte,

Jim

--
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Setup advice
 

"Jim Lesurf" wrote in message
...

It may be some kind of 'max' rating for the purpose of indicating what
kind
of requirements there are for fusing or leads, or for working out how much
of the current capacity of the house mains wiring arrangement it should be
assumed to demand for safety purposes. May also therefore be a 'peak'
value
not rms. Only guessing though as I have no idea how they obtained the
value, or what the current pun :-) USA regulations may be for this.

So would I be okay with a 300W step down converter? It's only a temporary,
low-volume solution.