How do you control volume with a separate amp?

[Inertia]

If I have a receiver that has preamp outs how do you control volume to a pair of front speakers with say a Behringer EP2500? Do you use the receivers master volume? Or the amps gain or what?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You use the pre/pro or the AVR in your case. The knobs on the EP2500 control attenuation so you pick a spot to set them (say 1/3-1/2 clockwise) and then calibrate the level. The master volume of the pre/pro then dictates the SPL of whatever is hooked to the amp.

 

[Haoleb]

You use the pre/pro or the AVR in your case. The knobs on the EP2500 control attenuation so you pick a spot to set them (say 1/3-1/2 clockwise) and then calibrate the level. The master volume of the pre/pro then dictates the SPL of whatever is hooked to the amp.

Nearly all power amps that have volume controls, are entirely passive meaning if you turn it up all the way you are not adding any gain to the incoming signal. You can only decrease the incoming signal. That being said, Most cases you'll want to turn the knob up all the way and then do your calibrations. If during calibration you ended up having to turn the AVR's outputs down alot then you would want to start using the amps volume knobs.