Signal issues to pro power amp

[Colton woolery]

I'm using a peavey PV1200 power amp to drive two 12 inch infinity reference subs in my home theater. I seem to be having issues getting a strong enough signal to the amp from my Yamaha AV receiver, could something like the Samson s-convert be the solution to boost signal strength?? Thank you

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm using a peavey PV1200 power amp to drive two 12 inch infinity reference subs in my home theater. I seem to be having issues getting a strong enough signal to the amp from my Yamaha AV receiver, could something like the Samson s-convert be the solution to boost signal strength?? Thank you

The input sensitivity is 1 volt which should be fine for your receiver. Make sure the input gains are fully clockwise. Use mono TRS plugs, that mans tip, body and no ring. Connect to the two TRS jacks with those.

An S-convert will do you no good and you don't need any other equipment to make this work. You are doing something wrong.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Use mono TRS plugs, that mans tip, body and no ring.

Better known as “TS” plugs.

I seem to be having issues getting a strong enough signal to the amp from my Yamaha AV receiver, could something like the Samson s-convert be the solution to boost signal strength??

First, why do you believe you aren’t getting enough signal to the amp? A lot of people fret about this if they aren’t able to get the clip LEDs blinking. However, if you’re driving the amp into clipping that simply means it isn’t powerful enough.

Here’s the bottom line: If you are able to get all the volume you need from your subs at your normal listening levels, then you’re fine. That’s the goal, not achieving blinking LEDs. As TLS mentioned, there should be no issue with the receiver being able to fully drive the amp, unless perhaps your receiver is lower-end.

If indeed you have the receiver’s sub level output turned all the way up and can’t get all the volume you want from the subs, and the amp is nowhere near clipping, then you’re a candidate for a signal booster.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Colton woolery]

It's not a super low end receiver, it's a middle of the road Yamaha but the whole system is indeed budget minded and diy, I've built bookshelf speakers and the subs ofcourse so far. The sub level is maxed, bass boost is on phase is set to normal, amp is absolutely no where near max performance or clipping. I don't really know why tls guy says I'm wrong but whatever. When a stand alone CD player was hooked directly to the amp and ran full range out it was unrealistically loud at "2" on the gain setting knob. It's a peavey pa concert amp so it's more than capable of blowing my windows out. So far everything I've done has pointed to too weak of a signal from the receivers pre out.

 

[TLS Guy]

It's not a super low end receiver, it's a middle of the road Yamaha but the whole system is indeed budget minded and diy, I've built bookshelf speakers and the subs ofcourse so far. The sub level is maxed, bass boost is on phase is set to normal, amp is absolutely no where near max performance or clipping. I don't really know why tls guy says I'm wrong but whatever. When a stand alone CD player was hooked directly to the amp and ran full range out it was unrealistically loud at "2" on the gain setting knob. It's a peavey pa concert amp so it's more than capable of blowing my windows out. So far everything I've done has pointed to too weak of a signal from the receivers pre out.

Do you have the gain all the way up on the Peavey? What connections and plugs are you using, and where are they plugged in.

All receivers give around a volt on the preouots, and that should drive your Peavey to max.

 

[Colton woolery]

Everything on the receiver and the peavey are maxed. Using an rca out from receiver to 1/4 inch in on peavey, bridged. My assumption on needing some form of signal booster is because this amp, which is around 11-15 years old is meant to be used as a pa or concert system amp with a mix board and or a pre amp, which of course boost signal from whatever is sending the signal. I know with newer model crown or behringer amps you don't need anything but this is a much older amp that doesn't have quite the technology in it, just power.

 

[TLS Guy]

Everything on the receiver and the peavey are maxed. Using an rca out from receiver to 1/4 inch in on peavey, bridged. My assumption on needing some form of signal booster is because this amp, which is around 11-15 years old is meant to be used as a pa or concert system amp with a mix board and or a pre amp, which of course boost signal from whatever is sending the signal. I know with newer model crown or behringer amps you don't need anything but this is a much older amp that doesn't have quite the technology in it, just power.

I think your problem is bridging.

For some reason the bridge input is the channel 1 output. The manual is not clear, but I would bet this input is a lot lower sensitivity.

Use dual mono mode. Connect the receiver sub pre out to the channel one input. Now connect the channel one daisy chain output to the channel two input.

Turn the gains all the way up. This gives you 1 volt for full modulation and is the same as the other amps you referenced.

Connect one driver to channel 1 and the other to channel 2.

That has to work unless you do it wrong and a unit is malfunctioning.

There is nothing unusual about that amp. Bridging causes no end of issues and is on the whole to be avioded.

 

[Colton woolery]

Well unfortunately I tried that, every way it can be hooked and routed etc. etc. I've tried, I don't like bridging, the original plan is to run them stereo. I tried all this and only got output by bridging a single sub. So I took the sub, put it in my car and beat myself into a migraine within minutes. Took the amp to a friends house and ran two dcm full range loudspeakers off it in stereo with only a pre amped CD player and it was obnoxiously loud at very minimal gain on the amp. That's why I figure it needs pre amped because the CD player was and that's the only difference between setups. So I know the amp is fine, I know the subs are fine and I know my receiver is fine as I've put a regular ht sub on it and it worked great. Only difference is a ht sub has that stuff built into it and this amp doesn't, same with the CD player, it was a boosted signal. I completely understand where your coming from but that isn't the case with this setup. I've read several other threads on various sites stating same problems and that in line balancer seemed to be the cure for everyone I read about, I just figured I'd jump on here for an additional opinion on the matter or recommendations on a line boosting sort of cure that won't break the bank.

 

[TLS Guy]

Well unfortunately I tried that, every way it can be hooked and routed etc. etc. I've tried, I don't like bridging, the original plan is to run them stereo. I tried all this and only got output by bridging a single sub. So I took the sub, put it in my car and beat myself into a migraine within minutes. Took the amp to a friends house and ran two dcm full range loudspeakers off it in stereo with only a pre amped CD player and it was obnoxiously loud at very minimal gain on the amp. That's why I figure it needs pre amped because the CD player was and that's the only difference between setups. So I know the amp is fine, I know the subs are fine and I know my receiver is fine as I've put a regular ht sub on it and it worked great. Only difference is a ht sub has that stuff built into it and this amp doesn't, same with the CD player, it was a boosted signal. I completely understand where your coming from but that isn't the case with this setup. I've read several other threads on various sites stating same problems and that in line balancer seemed to be the cure for everyone I read about, I just figured I'd jump on here for an additional opinion on the matter or recommendations on a line boosting sort of cure that won't break the bank.

I don't know what the problem is at this range. It needs testing with signal generator scope and VOM.

Unless the specs are completely wrong you should be fine. Your amp is specified 1 volt for full modulation. Input impedance is 20 K ohms. The Yamaha should give 1 volt on the pre outs. Receivers generally have I volt out on the preouts from an output impedance no higher than 600 ohms.

All of this should be fine.

Even if your amp was at the pro sensitivity of 2 volts, it would only be 3 db down at 1 volt.

Have you checked the output voltage and output impedance of your receiver?

I don't think I can solve this for your as I can't put the gear on my test bench.

Can you try this with another receiver. It is possible there is something wrong with the preout.

What I would do here is put a signal of 30 Hz to an input on the receiver with a generator and look at the wave form on the pre out on my scope and measure the voltage.

The bottom line is that the serious hobbiest needs to invest in test gear, to sort out puzzling problems like this that occur. This is a classic case that will not be solved without measured hard data or dumb luck.