Need help with system

[slotito]

My dad just bought a new amplifier because he wanted something better for his speakers. Everything works with the old amp but when we plus the new one in the sound from the speakers is very low basically at a whisper.
Amp (New) https://www.crownaudio.com/en/products/xlc-2500
old amp : https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/kenwood/basic-m1.shtml
preamp: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/kenwood/basic-c1.shtml
EQ: hifiengine.com/manual_library/technics/sh-ge50.shtml

speakers: http://www.audioreview.com/product/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/cerwin-vega/clsc-15.html

tried different output from cd to phono nothing works

So far I cut and put together an RCA to phoenix connector in the back of the amp wasn't working, ordered the cables from a local company works but very low thought maybe it needed to be unbalanced so I went by what the book for the crown said and connected negative and ground on the phoenix connector still doesn't work does anyone have an idea of what I can do??

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

I assume you have the gain controls all the way up?

The only other thing I can suggest is to make sure didn’t wire one of the cables out of phase. The RCA tip, which is the center conductor of the cable that’s wrapped with the shield, should go to the amp input (+). The shield should go to input (-).

Check speaker polarity as well.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[slotito]

I assume you have the gain controls all the way up?

The only other thing I can suggest is to make sure didn’t wire one of the cables out of phase. The RCA tip, which is the center conductor of the cable that’s wrapped with the shield, should go to the amp input (+). The shield should go to input (-).

Check speaker polarity as well.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Yea everything is up all the way the ables are right forsure I even cut an RCA and connected it directly to the phoenix connects in the back.

 

[slotito]

Does anyone know I I can use the hd15 output to the eq ? What should I buy if I want to do that

 

[TLS Guy]

My dad just bought a new amplifier because he wanted something better for his speakers. Everything works with the old amp but when we plus the new one in the sound from the speakers is very low basically at a whisper.
Amp (New) https://www.crownaudio.com/en/products/xlc-2500
old amp : https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/kenwood/basic-m1.shtml
preamp: https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/kenwood/basic-c1.shtml
EQ: hifiengine.com/manual_library/technics/sh-ge50.shtml

speakers: http://www.audioreview.com/product/speakers/floorstanding-speakers/cerwin-vega/clsc-15.html

tried different output from cd to phono nothing works

So far I cut and put together an RCA to phoenix connector in the back of the amp wasn't working, ordered the cables from a local company works but very low thought maybe it needed to be unbalanced so I went by what the book for the crown said and connected negative and ground on the phoenix connector still doesn't work does anyone have an idea of what I can do??

I see quite a few problems. That Crown amp is a pro amp and is not ideal for connection to domestic equipment. First of all the unbalanced input sensitivity of the Crown is 1.4 volts. Your preamp only outputs 1 volt. So that preamp will not drive the Crown to full power.

I see the input impedance of the Crown as a potential problem. The Kenwood preamp does not specify the optimal impedance it needs to see. However usually this type of gear requires an input impedance of at least 20 K ohms. Often 30 K ohm is optimal. The input impedance of the Crown is only 10 K ohms. This may be a major problem.

The instructions for connecting the Crown may not be clear to you, if you are not familiar with pro equipment. Now the Crown is primarily designed to be inter connected to other balanced units.

Now it offers balanced terminal strips, that can be unbalanced, but you have to do it correctly, and I suspect you did not.

Unless you have done this before, it may not be clear to you. It requires the creation of what is called a "floating line". To make this you need a balanced cable. You will have to install the RCA plugs yourself. Now these balanced cables have white and black conductors inside a shield.

Now you need to solder the the white cables to the tip of each RCA connector. Solder the blacks to the shields of the RCA plugs. Do not connect the shield at the RCA plug end. Trim it back so it does not cause trouble.

Now at the balanced terminal block on the Crown connect the white wires to the + terminals. Connect the black wires to the - terminals. Now connect the shields to the terminals marked shield. Now place jumper wires between the shields and - terminals.

Do all this for the right and left channels.

This should give your reasonable volume hopefully. If volume is still too low, then I'm afraid you will need matching transformers between the preamp and the Crown, one for each channel.

 

[slotito]

I did that and still doesn't work would you be able to recommend a pre amp that would work with the crown amp? If possible with a Bluetooth function if not that's ok older is ok also if I can find it on eBay or Kijiji

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[slotito]

I see quite a few problems. That Crown amp is a pro amp and is not ideal for connection to domestic equipment. First of all the unbalanced input sensitivity of the Crown is 1.4 volts. Your preamp only outputs 1 volt. So that preamp will not drive the Crown to full power.

I see the input impedance of the Crown as a potential problem. The Kenwood preamp does not specify the optimal impedance it needs to see. However usually this type of gear requires an input impedance of at least 20 K ohms. Often 30 K ohm is optimal. The input impedance of the Crown is only 10 K ohms. This may be a major problem.

The instructions for connecting the Crown may not be clear to you, if you are not familiar with pro equipment. Now the Crown is primarily designed to be inter connected to other balanced units.

Now it offers balanced terminal strips, that can be unbalanced, but you have to do it correctly, and I suspect you did not.

Unless you have done this before, it may not be clear to you. It requires the creation of what is called a "floating line". To make this you need a balanced cable. You will have to install the RCA plugs yourself. Now these balanced cables have white and black conductors inside a shield.

Now you need to solder the the white cables to the tip of each RCA connector. Solder the blacks to the shields of the RCA plugs. Do not connect the shield at the RCA plug end. Trim it back so it does not cause trouble.

Now at the balanced terminal block on the Crown connect the white wires to the + terminals. Connect the black wires to the - terminals. Now connect the shields to the terminals marked shield. Now place jumper wires between the shields and - terminals.

Do all this for the right and left channels.

This should give your reasonable volume hopefully. If volume is still too low, then I'm afraid you will need matching transformers between the preamp and the Crown, one for each channel.

I bought a cable that was made connected what you said still doesn't work could you suggest a preamp to replace what he has that would work new or used I can look on Kijiji and eBay also if it is possible to have Bluetooth that would be great thanks

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[TLS Guy]

I bought a cable that was made connected what you said still doesn't work could you suggest a preamp to replace what he has that would work new or used I can look on Kijiji and eBay also if it is possible to have Bluetooth that would be great thanks

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I don't think you can buy a cable that will work. You have to make it yourself. With respect, I'm certain you have not wired it correctly. The volume may not be loud enough for you, but it will not be a whisper.

A preamp with balanced outputs is going to be very expensive and they are very rare birds. Your Crown amp is designed to be connected to a mixing console.

Probably your cheapest solution would be an AV preamp, but even those are pricey.

If you can not make this work my advice is to sell the Crown and buy a two channel power amp with unbalanced connections. I'm not sure why you changed amps anyway, when your old one is working. I doubt changing the amp was going to change your situation anyway.

 

[Kingnoob]

Weird why did he buy a pro amp can you still return it ??
A avr is your best bet


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[slotito]

I don't think you can buy a cable that will work. You have to make it yourself. With respect, I'm certain you have not wired it correctly. The volume may not be loud enough for you, but it will not be a whisper.

A preamp with balanced outputs is going to be very expensive and they are very rare birds. Your Crown amp is designed to be connected to a mixing console.

Probably your cheapest solution would be an AV preamp, but even those are pricey.

If you can not make this work my advice is to sell the Crown and buy a two channel power amp with unbalanced connections. I'm not sure why you changed amps anyway, when your old one is working. I doubt changing the amp was going to change your situation anyway.

Thanks I will try to resell it or return it bought it off a guy I thought since it outputted so much more per channel everything should sound better on the speakers since the Kenwood is so much lower per channel

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[slotito]

Weird why did he buy a pro amp can you still return it ??
A avr is your best bet


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My dad wanted something with more watts per channel we both thought that it should make the speakers we are using wound better no expecting this issue got it off Kijiji so I'm gonna try to sell it again if he wont take it back thanks

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[slotito]

I don't think you can buy a cable that will work. You have to make it yourself. With respect, I'm certain you have not wired it correctly. The volume may not be loud enough for you, but it will not be a whisper.

A preamp with balanced outputs is going to be very expensive and they are very rare birds. Your Crown amp is designed to be connected to a mixing console.

Probably your cheapest solution would be an AV preamp, but even those are pricey.

If you can not make this work my advice is to sell the Crown and buy a two channel power amp with unbalanced connections. I'm not sure why you changed amps anyway, when your old one is working. I doubt changing the amp was going to change your situation anyway.

Is changing the amp going to do anything better for the speakers if I find a normal amp to make it sound better?

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[lovinthehd]

The pre-out on your pre-amp is rated 1V but indicates a 5V max, so I'd think it could get full power out of the amp with an appropriate cable. Amps basically provide power, not increased sound quality particularly just because they're more powerful so could be your expectations are a bit high.

 

[slotito]

The pre-out on your pre-amp is rated 1V but indicates a 5V max, so I'd think it could get full power out of the amp with an appropriate cable. Amps basically provide power, not increased sound quality particularly just because they're more powerful so could be your expectations are a bit high.

Ok thanks I'm gonna work on making the correct cables I thought I did it right but seems like I did not gonna get pictures of the cables tonight and post them here and see if anyone can see if I did it right or wrong

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[BMXTRIX]

Please take photos of your setup and post them. This is critical to ensure that we understand your setup. Be prepared to post follow up images.

I will make a small recommendation to ensure your dip switches are set properly on the amplifier. Make sure that both of them are down in the 'off' position.

You most certainly don't need to make 'custom' cables. Standard RCA cables will work fine. You just should ensure that there is a connection to ground. You don't have to connect anything to the negative (-) terminal of the amplifier, but if you do make a connection there, make sure it is the ground wire. So, TIP of one RCA cable goes to positive. TIP of the other RCA cable goes to the other positive. The sleeve connection (ground) of the RCA cable should land on ground of the amplifier, and may be jumpered over to the negative connection as well. But is MUST land on ground.

In the diagram below, pin 1 is GROUND and pin 3 is NEGATIVE. Pin 2 is POSITIVE...

 

[lovinthehd]

Ok thanks I'm gonna work on making the correct cables I thought I did it right but seems like I did not gonna get pictures of the cables tonight and post them here and see if anyone can see if I did it right or wrong

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Does the amp have a clipping indicator? Were you able in the time you used it able to trip that?

 

[slotito]

Please take photos of your setup and post them. This is critical to ensure that we understand your setup. Be prepared to post follow up images.

I will make a small recommendation to ensure your dip switches are set properly on the amplifier. Make sure that both of them are down in the 'off' position.

You most certainly don't need to make 'custom' cables. Standard RCA cables will work fine. You just should ensure that there is a connection to ground. You don't have to connect anything to the negative (-) terminal of the amplifier, but if you do make a connection there, make sure it is the ground wire. So, TIP of one RCA cable goes to positive. TIP of the other RCA cable goes to the other positive. The sleeve connection (ground) of the RCA cable should land on ground of the amplifier, and may be jumpered over to the negative connection as well. But is MUST land on ground.

In the diagram below, pin 1 is GROUND and pin 3 is NEGATIVE. Pin 2 is POSITIVE...

The cable was connected that way and it did not work I'll get pictures when I'm home

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