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Mismatched preamp and CD player?

My system is Adcom GTP-500, GFA-555 and MMGs. An Onix XCD-88 and Denon DCM-280 take care of the CD side.

I cannot turn the volume on the preamp above 8 o’clock comfortably and 9 o’clock drives me from the room (7 o'clock is full off with 5 o'clock full on) . The problem is much more noticable on the Onix than the Denon, but neither is desirable. Research suggests this is due to a mismatch of the CD player output level and the preamp input sensitivity. How can I confirm this is the case, and what can I do about it if true? Are there other causes I should be looking into?

Thanks in advance for your responses.
kythyn

Showing 3 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
att: kythyn
Just keep everything you want plugged into the "powered up" GTP-500 and use your source selector switch to select different sources,  and the tape outputs of the 500, go to one of the inputs of the SYS, then the SYS becomes your volume control. This way your only using the 500 as a source selector. 

This way you knock out the volume control and output gain stage of the GTP-500 from being used.

And you still have one input left on the SYS for your still another source.

Naturally the output of the SYS goes to your 555 power amp

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
could I somehow use the phono stage of the Adcom GTP-500?
Yes just switch to it from the tuner, still the tape out goes into one of  SYS inputs 

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Too much system gain!
Get rid of the active preamp, and get one of these for $49.
http://schiit.com/products/sys
You can still use the tuner, just come out of the tape out into the Schiit Sys passive preamp. Your system may very well sound better with it.

Cheers George
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