Picked up my first 2 channel amp (Pictures)

[krzywica]

Just bought a QSC A41 from a guy off Craigs List here locally. I can tell you its an absolute beast of an amp!

Still have to pick up some IC's to hook it up on my way home from work today.

330w x 2 @4Ohms.

Should be the boost I was looking for to power my towers.

I'll report back tonight or tomorrow for some impressions.

I know a lot of people are running the EMP towers and are considering getting an external power amp. I will be able to do a direct comparison to whether or not the amp makes a difference.

Here are a few pictures

 

[WmAx]

I certainly hope it does the job for you. I believe that is a very old amp. Pro amps from the 80's like that may have an audible noise floor/hiss used in the home environment for critical listening. Let us know how it turns out.

-Chris

 

[krzywica]

I certainly hope it does the job for you. I believe that is a very old amp. Pro amps from the 80's like that may have an audible noise floor/hiss used in the home environment for critical listening. Let us know how it turns out.

-Chris

Thanks Chris.

I tend to have a lot of gas so I'm sure the audible hiss will blend nicely with the natural ambiance of the room should it exist.

 

[Alex2507]

I tend to have a lot of gas ...

... a real ladies man.

 

[krzywica]

... a real ladies man.

Don't tell my girlfriend.....she will dislodge/remove my parts....

 

[highfigh]

Thanks Chris.

I tend to have a lot of gas so I'm sure the audible hiss will blend nicely with the natural ambiance of the room should it exist.

Does 'TMI' mean anything to you? Jeez!

Look inside and if it has TL072 op-amps, get some TL074- they're quieter. Also, if your preamp can produce more than 1V output, use that to your advantage by decreasing the QSC's input sensitivity. That will keep the noise down.

 

[krzywica]

Does 'TMI' mean anything to you? Jeez!

Look inside and if it has TL072 op-amps, get some TL074- they're quieter. Also, if your preamp can produce more than 1V output, use that to your advantage by decreasing the QSC's input sensitivity. That will keep the noise down.

Thanks!

I got it all hooked up last night. Ended up going with some dual 1/4" to RCA IC's from Cascio Interstate Music. Very nice place if you've never been, it was my first time.

Anywho after breaking out the SPL meter and getting everything setup properly my initial impressions was WOW!! Big difference!! I had found that previously when I got above 90 or so db the high's would start to get shrill and thin and the soundstage and imaging would just kind of fly all over the place with little or no consistency. Now the sound has the same amount of dynamics all the way up to ear bleeding volumes. Upon turning on the Pure Direct thereby defeating the sub and throwing on some 2 channel music I was amazed with the amount of extra punch it added. Also the soundstage seemed wider and more dispersed, and imaging was improved as I could not tell where the left channel ended and the right began.

Also I cranked the speakers to -0 DB with softer music playing where you would hear if there was any hiss and also with nothing playing and there was no hiss at all even with my ear up to the speakers. Needless to say I am very happy!

Here are some new pictures taken with an actual camera.

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[adk highlander]

Wow your room is looking great. Nice rack as well. Is that a server rack you are using or an AV one? I want to get a rack I can mount similar to that for all my distributed gear.

 

[WmAx]

Anywho after breaking out the SPL meter and getting everything setup properly my initial impressions was WOW!! Big difference!! I had found that previously when I got above 90 or so db the high's would start to get shrill and thin and the soundstage and imaging would just kind of fly all over the place with little or no consistency. Now the sound has the same amount of dynamics all the way up to ear bleeding volumes.

Awesome. Now I bet you are through using meager '100' watt amps and such.

Even my computer sound system has enormous power available (over 1000 watts per stereo channel). My main system has 950 watts per stereo channel available, with more to come when it goes to a 4 way setup. I always use extreme high power amplification now to ensure clipping can never degrade sound in any circumstance.

-Chris

 

[krzywica]

Wow your room is looking great. Nice rack as well. Is that a server rack you are using or an AV one? I want to get a rack I can mount similar to that for all my distributed gear.

Thanks a lot man!

Actually its a network rack that I made shelves for. I got it for free from a friend locally.

Similar to something like this.


I actually used 2x6's and MDF that I painted black (half textured flat black that looks awesome, then I ran out so I had to use gloss black grrr...). I had to make shelves as some of my gear is not rack mount ready if you will. I would say that I am pretty happy with it...I usually take a lot more care in my projects but I had a TON of other stuff going on and was on a deadline to get this up and running.....I will likely take the equipment off and repaint the shelves textured flat black in the new future.

 

[krzywica]

Awesome. Now I bet you are through using meager '100' watt amps and such.

Even my computer sound system has enormous power available (over 1000 watts per stereo channel). My main system has 950 watts per stereo channel available, with more to come when it goes to a 4 way setup. I always use extreme high power amplification now to ensure clipping can never degrade sound in any circumstance.

-Chris

Yes no more meager amplification for me. Personally I don't think 99% of receivers can deliver on their rated specs as far as WPC goes. With H/K being probably the most honest with the true specs.

Sheesh man 1000W+ for PC I thought my stup was too much. but I think you have a reputation for overkill here much like Tim the Tool Man Taylor had.......Are those Binford Amps you are running?

Also I have a ground loop that is manifesting itself through my sub with a ow pitched hum. Any suggestions on a cheap isolation device?

 

[highfigh]

Thanks!

I got it all hooked up last night. Ended up going with some dual 1/4" to RCA IC's from Cascio Interstate Music. Very nice place if you've never been, it was my first time.

Anywho after breaking out the SPL meter and getting everything setup properly my initial impressions was WOW!! Big difference!! I had found that previously when I got above 90 or so db the high's would start to get shrill and thin and the soundstage and imaging would just kind of fly all over the place with little or no consistency. Now the sound has the same amount of dynamics all the way up to ear bleeding volumes. Upon turning on the Pure Direct thereby defeating the sub and throwing on some 2 channel music I was amazed with the amount of extra punch it added. Also the soundstage seemed wider and more dispersed, and imaging was improved as I could not tell where the left channel ended and the right began.

Also I cranked the speakers to -0 DB with softer music playing where you would hear if there was any hiss and also with nothing playing and there was no hiss at all even with my ear up to the speakers. Needless to say I am very happy!

Here are some new pictures taken with an actual camera.

IC's are interconnects? Can we just call them 'audio cables' and 'video cables'? IC has been used for Integrated Circuits for long enough that it shouldn't be stolen by some other use.

While I won't deny the shrillness can come from the old amp, I think you'll be able to get more out of it after you treat the walls, if you haven't yet. The RT60 in a room with hard surfaces is very high and that adds a lot of shrillness at high SPL.

Casio, eh? Didn't want to go to Weedly-World?

 

[highfigh]

Yes no more meager amplification for me. Personally I don't think 99% of receivers can deliver on their rated specs as far as WPC goes. With H/K being probably the most honest with the true specs.

Sheesh man 1000W+ for PC I thought my stup was too much. but I think you have a reputation for overkill here much like Tim the Tool Man Taylor had.......Are those Binford Amps you are running?

Also I have a ground loop that is manifesting itself through my sub with a low pitched hum. Any suggestions on a cheap isolation device?

If you want a cheap one, Radio Shack has isolation transformers in the section with their other cables but it only has RCA ends. One warning- these tend to affect the sound quality if they're not particularly good, e.g., wound badly, not true 1:1 turns ratio and too much inductance. If you connect it and the bass decreases, you'll either need a good one (Jensen transformers) or use the same circuit from the same receptacle. If you're already doing this, you have resistance on the ground and/or the neutral of that circuit and may be at it's limit because 15A=1800W

 

[krzywica]

IC's are interconnects? Can we just call them 'audio cables' and 'video cables'? IC has been used for Integrated Circuits for long enough that it shouldn't be stolen by some other use.

While I won't deny the shrillness can come from the old amp, I think you'll be able to get more out of it after you treat the walls, if you haven't yet. The RT60 in a room with hard surfaces is very high and that adds a lot of shrillness at high SPL.

Casio, eh? Didn't want to go to Weedly-World?

Just an acronym adopted from other posts on the site......

I think you misunderstood....I HAD shrillness at high SPL's with the yammie, now it is cured by adding more power.

I am about to start my own audio panel DIY project as mentioned here. I will be starting a new thread in the next week or two....I have been very busy with all kinds of other stuff lately and some free time will be headed my way shortly. If you have any advice I would love to hear it. Also IDK what your social habits or schedule is like but you would be more than welcome to come over and throw me a few tips, Patrick has been over a few times and we have already improved the sound quite a bit by making little tweaks here and there.

 

[speakerman39]

Wow your room is looking great. Nice rack as well. Is that a server rack you are using or an AV one? I want to get a rack I can mount similar to that for all my distributed gear.

I agree the rack looks quite impressive. I also like his room is coming together!!!! Very nice.



Cheers,

Phil

 

[krzywica]

I agree the rack looks quite impressive. I also like his room is coming together!!!! Very nice.



Cheers,

Phil

Thanks man! er.....Speakerman!

I still have a few things to do....I need to get a dimmer for the lights above the fireplace.....so I can keep them on real low for movie time.....

 

[krzywica]

If you want a cheap one, Radio Shack has isolation transformers in the section with their other cables but it only has RCA ends. One warning- these tend to affect the sound quality if they're not particularly good, e.g., wound badly, not true 1:1 turns ratio and too much inductance. If you connect it and the bass decreases, you'll either need a good one (Jensen transformers) or use the same circuit from the same receptacle. If you're already doing this, you have resistance on the ground and/or the neutral of that circuit and may be at it's limit because 15A=1800W

So I would be able to run this in line with the cat5e that I am running my LFE over?

 

[speakerman39]

Thanks man! er.....Speakerman!

I still have a few things to do....I need to get a dimmer for the lights above the fireplace.....so I can keep them on real low for movie time.....

Great plan. Once you do, be sure to post a few more pics for all of us to see. Inquiring minds want to know.



Cheers,

Phil

 

[WmAx]

The ART DTI is a fairly good quality isolation transformer. I have measured/analyzed the device to verify performance. Some small frequeny respnose variation (-0.5db at 55Hz, - 1db at 30hz, -0.5dB at 15kHz), good THD performance and inaudible but some increased IMD (0.25%). It has connections for balanced and unbalanced (1/4, XLR and RCA). Comes in a great metal case package and can convert between different connections and convert unbalanced to balanced, etc..

http://www.zzounds.com/item--ARTDTI

-Chris

 

[Warpdrv]

Actually its a network rack that I made shelves for. I got it for free from a friend locally.

This is what I have been reduced to.... a friend locally...

Man... free expensive rack - oh wait, there was 2 of them as I recall.... good lord, you better bring some booze over tonight with you !!!!!

Puh...


BTW, congrats on the new amp - glad it worked out - and the price was certainly right...