How to setup my avr as pre

[EDUBAG]

Hello everybody,

i currently own a pioneer elite vsx23txh and was using it to drive my rtia7 speakers.

Since everybody here knows that the rtia7 tend to be a little bright i went ahead and purchased a rotel rb990bx amp, because according to a lot of people here it provided a warm sound.

I went ahead and hooked to the pre outs on the avr and ran the mcacc automatic calibration software of the pioneer.

I did not like the sound at all it killed, i mean literally killed the brightness of the music.

Played some cd and it sounded muffled and not louder or fuller.

I am wondering if there is a way to know if i am using the avr correctly as a pre. I have to push the volume all the way to -10db to feel the speakers come alive.

I would like to know if there is a loud function on this avr or a proper way to set up so the speakers can sing and i can enjoy their full potential

any advice will be greatly appreciated

regards,

ed

[yepimonfire]

you should be able to adjust the gain of your amplifier. try that.

[EDUBAG]

it cannot be adjusted, most home amps do not have a gain control, most of them go by what the pre feeds them.

[kcoc321]

If I had that issue with that AVR, I would do a factory reset, and then see how it sounds WITHOUT running the automatic setup software. Worth a shot. I have had a Rotel amp, and I would definately NOT say it was 'muffled', warm, yes.

I would NEVER use the "Loundness" button...good way to trash some speaks.

[disneyjoe7]

I would run your MCACC setup again to see what you think after that.

[Sherardp]

I would run your MCACC setup again to see what you think after that.

You have to run MCACC with the amp installed and mentioned by DisneyJoe. Also suggest you break out the SPL meter and tweak a little. That Rotel should be making you feel even better about your setup.

[Amherst]

I ran that same receiver with three different out board amps with very good results. As Kcoc has suggested already do a reset and start from scratch. I would also recommend that you start out in pure direct mode and give a listen for sound quality. Another item is; Are you linking these together with a decent IC?

[Knucklehead]

After I installed my Rotel, I ran the MCACC again....I can't say enough good things about that AMP.

[EDUBAG]

like i said,

i am sure that the amp is capable of bringing good sound, i just do not know if i am using the avr as a pre in a correct manner.

anybody familiar with the vsx23txh can help by stating how they are using theirs, is there a loud mode in this avr? etc.

regards,
ed

[Amherst]

anybody familiar with the vsx23txh can help by stating how they are using theirs

Pure Direct, no mcacc.