TA1600 volume controls

[jrosenstein]

i got myself a Hafler TA1600 to drive my passive monitors, and now i'm wondering about controlling the volume. There are separate L & R volume knobs on the amp, but recently i seem to recall some pretty lengthy discussions about how you should control the source volume, and not use volume controls on the amps themselves. these knobs are described as "input attenuation" controls ... but unlike some powered monitors, they DO have a full range of volume, not just +/- 10dB or so.

currently i have my soundcard output at 100% running into the amplifier, which i adjust as necessary. running the soundcard at full volume is a given, but would there be reason for me to invest in (or build) a separate volume control? the only thing i can think of is that i would be able to link the left and right channels with a dual potentiometer. convenient, yes, but would it sound any better?

 

[tdukex]

You are way over-analyzing this. Just turn the left/right volumes up until you get the volume you want--and be done with it.

 

[alfalfa]

The concern with using those input attentuation controls is that they may not be designed for the wear and tear of constant changing. The pots may wear out and get noisy after a period of use.

If you can hook up a potentiomenter as a passive preamp then it should provide relatively transparent volume control.

The problem with using the software volume control is that you are losing resolution when you reduce the volume (bits are being chopped off).

 

[Son of Mixerman]

I don't thinks its a good idea to power up any kind of high voltage amplifier with the "volume pots" turned up. Did you read the instructions? Power it up with the pots at zero and turn the volume up until your happy. Its not good for your monitors to recieve a input spike when you power up.

SoMm

 

[drstawl]

I don't thinks its a good idea to power up any kind of high voltage amplifier with the "volume pots" turned up. Did you read the instructions? Power it up with the pots at zero and turn the volume up until your happy. Its not good for your monitors to recieve a input spike when you power up.

SoMm

I just picked up the TA 1600 (wonderful compared with what it replaced, BTW ) and it has a "soft start" circuit that prevents transients being sent to the speakers on start-up or shut down.

I've tested this. No pops on start-up or shut-down.

They DO recommend turning off the amp when switching source cabling though.

They say in the manual that you should set the input attenuation knobs between 6.5 and 7.5 and use the source volume control to get the output level you want.

But even that is too loud for me!

With my soundcard putting out a signal peaking at -15dB I have to set the amp's controls at 3 to not get blown out of my chair.

 

[jrosenstein]

agreed. i have to have the volume pretty low on the power amp to keep a reasonable listening level. that's why i was wondering if i was missing anything by not driving it very hard.

 

[drstawl]

agreed. i have to have the volume pretty low on the power amp to keep a reasonable listening level. that's why i was wondering if i was missing anything by not driving it very hard.

The only thing you're missing is hearing loss!

 

[Slackmaster2K]

Set them up per the procedure in the manual. Mine are both set to ~4 on the dials....that gives me the best freedom with the volume control on my preamp....about 2/3 to 3/4 before any clipping on a "loud" source.

Slackmaster 2000

 

[Son of Mixerman]

I just picked up the TA 1600 (wonderful compared with what it replaced, BTW ) and it has a "soft start" circuit that prevents transients being sent to the speakers on start-up or shut down.

Oh.

I thought I read the manual...but I was in a hurry. Cool...cause I was getting tired of having to turn knobs...NOT! Its a great little amp. My main are off a 500 watt Sampson with detented volumes..its freaking loud. I think Ive been recording too long...My knobs are always around 6.5?
You can never have enough knobs!


SoMm