H/K AVR-435 Preamp output level

[blake.jordan]

Hello,

I've got a Harman Kardon AVR-435 which I'm using for my HT with several different digital inputs. I have a stereo rca cable running from the front preamp outputs on the harman to an older analog receiver elsewhere in the house for powering household distributed audio.

The output levels from the FL and FR preamps are around 6mV at normal levels, and around 75mV at higher volumes. Obviously those are pretty low, which is requiring the older onkyo receiver to be at 85% volume or so to get to normal volume.

Is there a *cheap* line level amp out there I can use to boost the harman's output to a normal level so I don't have to keep my onkyo at 85%+ volume?


Thanks,
-Blake

 

[M Code]

Have you adjusted the 435's L/R channel trims..
Push those up to +10dB and the pre-amp levels will step-up accordingly..

Just my $0.01...

 

[blake.jordan]

I can adjust the trims for the entire channel, which will boost the actual speaker volume (connected to the 435), but then that throws my adjustments all off (for center, surrounds, etc). And while it does boost the output, its not as much as you would expect. The Onkyo still had to be around 60% or so if I remember correctly.

Is there a setting somewhere I might be missing that only controls the preamp levels? I checked the manual and OSD and couldn't find it, but that doesn't mean I couldn't miss it.

 

[Adam]

Hi. If you use the pre-amp outputs, then the output level is controlled by the volume control on the H/K. I'm guessing that what you want is to have it not be controlled by the H/K, but rather have the volume only controlled by the Onkyo.

If that's the case, then I recommend that you use the "TAPE OUT", "VID1 OUT", or "VID2 OUT" outputs from the H/K to connect to the Onkyo. That should fix your issue.

 

[Alex2507]

Is there a setting somewhere I might be missing that only controls the preamp levels?

I have an H/H AVR 430 and have played around with a 635 and a 235 so I'm almost an expert on the 435 which I have never seen. Okay, all that nonsense out of the way. The FL & FR pre outs are controlled by by the Master Volume control and channel adjust gains just like the speaker level is. If you want to do something different you can use the Zone 2 feature that is accessible through Multi Room I believe on your OSD. There are L & R pre-outs for that with a separate volume control but there is no bass management and you can only output analog feeds.

Does that help?

 

[blake.jordan]

Adam:
I actually do prefer that the level is controlled by the H/K. The Onkyo is basically an uncontrolled amplifier thats in a separate room meant only for household distributed audio. The H/K handles all source switching, and volume control (though the Onkyo is accessible when needed).

The H/K doesn't have to do volume control (which was my first plan), but H/K volume control became more convenient. I actually tried the video1 (and also tape) outputs from the H/K, which were louder, but not much.


Alex:
Been a few years since I tried multi-room with this receiver. Do you know if I'm still able to do separate multi-room outputs when using 7.1 channels?

 

[Alex2507]

Do you know if I'm still able to do separate multi-room outputs when using 7.1 channels?

Not while you're using 7.1 from what I understood about it. Those rear surround channels either go for one or the other but not both and looking at the way my updated 430 menu appears it looks like you assign the rear surround amps and the Zone 2 pre outs follow suit so you might have to physically disconnect the rear surround speakers or at the very least tell the rec'r that you have NONE rear surrounds. When I said expert I may have embellished.

 

[blake.jordan]

Thats what I was thinking too. Can't really give up the 7.1 here, so I'm back to using the regular preamp outputs again. Since increasing the channel level, and using the vid1/tape outputs rather than FL/FR preamp outputs all are still too low of a level, it looks like I'm back to needing some sort of preamp or line driver.

Car audio offers cheap line drivers, but that starts to become a somewhat ugly solution by the time I add a 12v power supply to it and all. So....anyone know of a way to amp ~10mV up to ~250mV+ for < $50 without it being too hacky?

 

[TLS Guy]

Thats what I was thinking too. Can't really give up the 7.1 here, so I'm back to using the regular preamp outputs again. Since increasing the channel level, and using the vid1/tape outputs rather than FL/FR preamp outputs all are still too low of a level, it looks like I'm back to needing some sort of preamp or line driver.

Car audio offers cheap line drivers, but that starts to become a somewhat ugly solution by the time I add a 12v power supply to it and all. So....anyone know of a way to amp ~10mV up to ~250mV+ for < $50 without it being too hacky?

This will do what you want.