Volume level mystery - can you solve it?


I recently replaced a pair of Linn LK power amps (85 and 140, in passive biamp mode) with the much more powerful Linn 2250 amp (just one). My preamp is a Linn Kairn. I have noticed that in order to achieve the same volume levels with the 2250 as I was getting with the 85/140 combo, I need to crank the Kairn volume setting much higher. By way of example: on a scale of 1-100, 50 used to be my normal listening level, but to achieve that level I now need to turn the Kairn up to 70 or higher. The Kairn only goes up to 100, but with the new amp, everything below 60 or so is very, very quiet. After 70, the volume ramps up pretty quickly, whereas with the 85/140, the distribution seemed more of an even straight line graph. Does anyone have any idea what this is all about? Are amps just calibrated differently? If anything, I would have expected the 2250 -- a more powerful amp -- to produce higher volume at lower settings, but the reverse seems to be true. Any thoughts about this would be much appreciated. I am a little worried that something is wrong with the amp, but aside from the volume issue the sound seems good. Thanks.
kdl6769

Showing 3 responses by gregm

Also think of the new amp's input sensitivity -- it may not be the same as the older amps'.
Bigtee wrote:
Some preamps like more load, some less...
No, not really. Lowering the load's impedance always makes things more difficult for the source. The higher the destination impedance and the lower the source impedance, the better.

If all Linn amps have identical input impedance across the FR spectrum, the single 2250 should be a MUCH easier load (twice as high in fact).

Maybe you should follow Lugnut's advice, pronto!
The two older amps have completely different input sensitivities (much higher: 685/870mv for full power vs 1,2V for the new one). You need a higher relative source voltage to drive yr new amp to clipping (i.e. turn the volume control higher). That alone could explain the differences you're experiencing.

Also the new amp, alone, is a slightly better load by the looks of it (the old ones together were 5kOhm). Do also use the switch in the back (if you haven't already)!