82.0 Ref?

[Squishman]

I just bought a funky jazz LP so I wanted to crank it up. It's Stanley Clarke's "School Days". So turning up the volume on my RZ50, the display as it gets to 82 says "Volume 82.0Ref" for a second, then reverts to 82.0. What does that mean? I have an Emotiva external amp hooked up it it matters.

 

[lovinthehd]

I just bought a funky jazz LP so I wanted to crank it up. It's Stanley Clarke's "School Days". So turning up the volume on my RZ50, the display as it gets to 82 says "Volume 82.0Ref" for a second, then reverts to 82.0. What does that mean? I have an Emotiva external amp hooked up it it matters.

For content mixed to the THX standard (generally movies), 82 on the absolute scale you're using on the Onkyo is considered THX level. If using the relative scale then it would be "0"

 

[Squishman]

For content mixed to the THX standard (generally movies), 82 on the absolute scale you're using on the Onkyo is considered THX level. If using the relative scale then it would be "0"

Thx Lovin.

 

[lovinthehd]

FWIW music is mixed with a variety of "standards", some can approach the THX thing but seems that's not the usual case.

 

[PENG]

For content mixed to the THX standard (generally movies), 82 on the absolute scale you're using on the Onkyo is considered THX level. If using the relative scale then it would be "0"

That would be for digital inputs. He said LP, so that seems strange, as volume 82 when using phono input would likely be extremely loud unless the turntable was just idling.

 

[Squishman]

That would be for digital inputs. He said LP, so that seems strange, as volume 82 when using phono input would likely be extremely loud unless the turntable was just idling.

82 is loud enough playing something that requires some volume like Deep Purple's "Machine Head". But generally I have around the 70's for LP's I think. Could it be that my speakers need the extra db? That's why I got the three-channel amp because of the draw of these Kef's.

 

[lovinthehd]

That would be for digital inputs. He said LP, so that seems strange, as volume 82 when using phono input would likely be extremely loud unless the turntable was just idling.

On my avrs my experience is more that for the phono input I need to do something with the input level adjustment to bring it up closer to the normal digital input levels. Only analog input I use generally is phono, too.

82 is loud enough playing something that requires some volume like Deep Purple's "Machine Head". But generally I have around the 70's for LP's I think. Could it be that my speakers need the extra db? That's why I got the three-channel amp because of the draw of these Kef's.

My vinyl copy of Machine Head I never thought was recorded at a particularly high level, have always had to turn the volume up a bit on that one (and is fun to do anyways).

 

[Squishman]

My vinyl copy of Machine Head I never thought was recorded at a particularly high level, have always had to turn the volume up a bit on that one (and is fun to do anyways).

I haven't played that one for a little while, I was just trying to mention some hard rock in general. Such a great album though, so I should absolutely play it soon. MC5's "Back in the USA" is another one. That one with my previous speakers (Klipsch La Scalas), the high end was off the charts. I need to see how that one does now with my new set-up.

 

[lovinthehd]

I haven't played that one for a little while, I was just trying to mention some hard rock in general. Such a great album though, so I should absolutely play it soon. MC5's "Back in the USA" is another one. That one with my previous speakers (Klipsch La Scalas), the high end was off the charts. I need to see how that one does now with my new set-up.

Not too long ago picked up the multich SACD of Machine Head very nice.

 

[PENG]

82 is loud enough playing something that requires some volume like Deep Purple's "Machine Head". But generally I have around the 70's for LP's I think. Could it be that my speakers need the extra db? That's why I got the three-channel amp because of the draw of these Kef's.

I don't know about the Q11, but the Q11 Meta should be considered truly 4 ohm nominal speakers. Sensitivity, at 89 dB/2.83 V/m isn't that bad so if your seating distance is say, not more than 4 meters and you listen to 5-10 dB below reference at the most, then your Emotiva Bass X may be fine. If I were to drive those speakers, I would go with something much more current capable, such as the relatively low cost Hypex NC502MP:
Hypex NC502MP OEM amplifier module with on-board SMPS

Again, the bass X may be good enough if you listen anywhere close to reference level and sit not too far.
I don't know why you have to crank the volume that high though, as the bass X has good gain, 29 dB.

Most Hypex amp's again with the default input buffer would be around 25.5 dB so with those your volume would have to be about 3-4 dB higher.

 

[Squishman]

@lovinthehd, I put "Back in the USA" by MC5 on and it sounds really great. It sounded like it was mixed too high when I played it previously on my La Scalas. So glad it dawned on me how much they weren't up to par. The LP is an original issue in VG++. About 5 or 6 years ago, I bought a new re-issue and I didn't like the sound. I was sure it was just a bad mix and/or master on the reissue so I sold it and found this OP, but it sounded the same. ha.

 

[lovinthehd]

@lovinthehd, I put "Back in the USA" by MC5 on and it sounds really great. It sounded like it was mixed too high when I played it previously on my La Scalas. So glad it dawned on me how much they weren't up to par. The LP is an original issue in VG++. About 5 or 6 years ago, I bought a new re-issue and I didn't like the sound. I was sure it was just a bad mix and/or master on the reissue so I sold it and found this OP, but it sounded the same. ha.

Some have reported various problems (or just "differences"?) with re-issues...don't think I ever bought a vinyl re-issue myself, and haven't had any particular complaints about any digital re-issues I've got. The Machine Head I got was remixed for 5.1 but based on a previous quad vinyl mix per the liner notes (with the addition of a center channel), but never did quad on vinyl before....

 

[Squishman]

Some have reported various problems (or just "differences"?) with re-issues...don't think I ever bought a vinyl re-issue myself, and haven't had any particular complaints about any digital re-issues I've got. The Machine Head I got was remixed for 5.1 but based on a previous quad vinyl mix per the liner notes (with the addition of a center channel), but never did quad on vinyl before....

I have two Machine Heads. One is a Roger Glover remix on CD and a 2006 remaster LP.