ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
I have a pair of Beolab 4000 speakers, and a Technics SL-1650 record (LP) player. I bought a preamp to connect the two (a DJ Pre II), which has a gain control knob, but even at the lowest gain setting the sound from the speakers is too loud. Since the Beolab speakers do not have a volume control, is there anything I can do? Do I need to buy a different preamp, and if so, would something like this work?
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BBGCCI/ref=sxbs_sxwds-stvp_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3341940462&pd_rd_wg=B9bXC&pf_rd_r=GTSTCJZC3TPMTF057FTF&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-bottom-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B000BBGCCI&pd_rd_w=qMjGi&pf_rd_i=phono+preamp&pd_rd_r=5e2ad538-5921-47c9-bf3e-01810e829c1c&ie=UTF8&qid=1517694136&sr=2
This is an amazon link to an ART USB Phono Plus preamp, which has a "monitor output level" control in addition to a gain control. I understand that the output level function has applications for the USB convertor setting, but could this function as a volume control for my Beolabs? Thank you very much!
It sounds like the preamp is kicking out too much voltage, so that even at the lowest dB setting, you’re still getting too much gain.
one thing to look at is whether the preamp has *input* volume control. For instance, on my old McIntosh preamp, I was able to level out volume between inputs by increasing or decreasing volume to make everything even. If so, try to reduce the gain from the input. This may buy you enough drop in volume so that you can get better overall volume control.
Hmm I see. Thanks alee. My preamp doesn't have an input volume control, as the only variable is the gain. I do have a Harman-Kardon PM655 integrated amplifier that has both a pre-out and main-in, could I use that in some way? Would I be able to go from LP player -- preamp -- integrated amp --Beoloabs? If so, do the speakers plug in the pre-out on main-in? Thank you!
If you plug the RCA Pre Amp Out to the RCA In on the BL4000's and your turntable into the HP amp, that should work just fine and give you volume control/bass/treble etc.