Amp/preamp question

Northwinds

Northwinds

Veteran and General Yakker
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Coventry, CT
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Fondler errrr... fan of all Nav's avatars
Yesterday I was out in the garage puttering around and I have the Dynaco Stereo 400 out there being driven by the Onkyo Integra P-304. Being who I am, I decided to hook up the Realistic Mach 3's and started cranking. I turned off the Dynaguard and just kept turning the preamp volume. Lo and behold, I ran out of volume control!!!! The preamp volume was maxed and the amp still wanted to keep going. How is this possible??? No clipping, amp did not even get hot since I have Jer's fan set on it. I think this is the first time I maxed a preamp volume out. It was ridiculously loud, like beyond loud outside since I had the garage door open. What was interesting is that I chose the 2nd meter setting and when the volume was cranked all the way, the Dynaco meter needles were hitting at or just a hair above 0dbs. What was even better was no distortion even volume maxed. I have a lot of respect for this oldass amp now. I don't think I could do that with the WOPL, last time I did (last week), it tripped and I have been scared to use it since so giving it a little break and have the M-504 driving the main system again. I still have not managed to trip the M-504, even with the meters hitting the 500w marks

I am wondering whether I should get a hold of Jer and maybe the WOPL500 needs to be checked out, really bothered me when it tripped. Meters will still going but no output until I shut it down for a few minutes. No fuses popped either and Lee said it was not the heat protection that tripped. After a few minutes, she was singing again
 
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DC protect nuisance tripping...
 
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laatsch55 said:
DC protect nusciance tripping...
Click to expand...

Indeed. Sounds similar to when Rob's tripped back when it was here. It wasnt loud though when it happened to me. Just a static/crackle noise.


I was using a Sanyo rack mount pre amp at one time, temporarily, and that unit i could put the volume all the way up, and my 1801 wouldnt even be budgin yet. Just didnt have the output my Bose pre does. I believe Lee and I had spoke at one time, about pre amps, and their output spec's. If you have manuals you could compare the two.
 
Each pre-amp should have a max out spec. Each amp should have an input sensitivity spec stating what input is required for advertised max power. Comparing those two specs should give you some idea.
 
Any DC output of a pre-amp will also cause the DC protect of the amp to react....
 
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