Preamp level

[jnorv]

My primary system is dual 604 HNLP/817 cabs with MR94/288 as the mid range. It is triamped through a Beringer active crossover. My problem is that I have too much gain. My Rowland preamp (Consonance) goes from zero to 200. I run it at 7. Works great with my LOMC cart but I need more control with my CD/SACD players. What do I do?

Jim N

[bfish]

Hi Jim,

Need a bit more info, output levels and Z of your sources, and input sensitivity and Z of your amp. I found the Rowland's spec;

Line Stage Gain - Selectable 6/16.4 dB
Phono Stage Gain - Selectable 42/60.2 dB
IHF Input Sensitivity
For 500 MV Output
Phono: tape out 0.5 mV or 4.0 mV
Line: main out 75 mV or 210 mV
Max Output Level Phono/Line
7.5 V RMS/7.5 V RMS

Just a preliminary guess, but a gain switch setting of low for the CD and high for the phono might help.

[jnorv]

According to my manual I only have a fixed 16Db line stage gain. I am using a Bryston 4B, Rowland 5 and small digital 10 watt for the amps, if that gives you any info.

Jim N

[selmerdave]

Surely the Behringer lets you set the levels of the drivers? You should be able to cut a lot of gain there if nowhere else.

Dave

[jnorv]

It is only +/- 12 dB. I can't believe that I am the only one with this problem.

Jim N

[bfish]

According to my manual I only have a fixed 16Db line stage gain...

Hmmm... your's must be an older (or newer?) version than the online manual I found;

http://www.jeffrowland.com/Docs/ConsonanceManual.pdf

That one has internal DIPs to tweak gain and Z to your needs.

[jnorv]

Mine must be an earler model. It does not have the line level adjustments. On the other hand, it does have a 60 dB phono stage which does a dynimite job with my 015 mv LOMC cart.

Jim

[bfish]

Without all the details I mentioned earlier, it's pretty hard to diagnose much farther than what you already know;

...I have too much gain...

If those Rowland specs are even close, that's one really hot pre... like something you'd use to drive a (really) remote amp rack. Given that many of today's CD players are hot enough to drive an amp without a pre, when you insert that much gain in between, you're gonna run out of control room real quick.

There's at least a couple ways to address it, with some build-out resistance, or a line-level pad. Or... well, I won't bum you out any further with the other solution, I saw the price tag of that pre.

Added;
When I Googled the pre for specs, I had to scroll through a bunch of FS listings before I found the spec. That might be a clue to your last Q;

...I can't believe that I am the only one with this problem.