Me Three!

Kevin - Thanks for all the backround info. I re-ran the hiss test using an analog source and yes at a 0db setting I can hear a very faint hiss but again I have to physically stick my ear in the horn to hear it. I believe your right in that the digital signal may be getting muted. I also stuck my SPL in the horn but the hiss was still under 50db and didn't register on the meter.

Tom

Obie- Now I'm really getting a hankerin' for the new one.

Might be here tomorrow. If true, I can only think of one line:

What a long, strange trip it's been!

Kevin: Do they tell you when it is on the way; or do they just say it will be on its' way to you shortly and then it shows up?

I got an Email asking me to call them.

Got that in an email this morning.

Anxiously awaiting my email for the replacement 950. One question in reading through this post. Is there a preference to setting the trim levels low and the volume high or higher trim levels with a lower volume setting to achieve calibration. I am asking this because I currently am calibrated at 75db SPL at 00db on the 950. However my trims are set at:
-8 LM
-6 C
-8 RM
-8 RS
+1RB
+2LB
-7LS
-1SW
Obviously there is not enough room to lower all of my trims by -8db. If I calibrate the 75db SPL at -10db my trims are set higher and the numbers above would probably be close to the calibration for the replacement 950 when set -8db less.

Question, what are the advantages/disadvantages in 00db and -10db calibration.

Scott

Scott:

Yep, you've got a bit of a problem there. First a little background: The new 950 has about 8db more output for the same setting on the volume knob than the old 950. One of my original recommendations to Outlaw was to compensate for this by re-calibrating the volume control so that "00" was actually 8db lower in level, so the net output would be the same as the old 950. The volume would have gone +18db above "00" instead of the current +10db. The hiss reduction would be preserved, and there would be additional headroom above "00" for those time when it's needed. Unfortunately, this would have necessitated a firmware re-write which would have delayed the release too much. Therefore that "re-calibration" needs to be done in the trims.

You must have either a power amp with a high sensitivity or speakers with very high sensitivity. I assume you don't have input volume controls on your power amps: if you do, stop here and calibrate for 75db as per my post earlier in this thread.

Now the nitty gritty - You won't have enough range on the trims to get the level low enough to get 75db with the main volume control at "00". Therefore I think the only course of action for you would be to do another re-calibration on your system when you get the new 950, but do it with the main volume control at minus 8db rather than at "00" Your "reference" setting on the new 950 would therefore be -08db rather than "00" - This is important in order to realize the reduction in hiss! I think you will find that after the re-calibration, your trims are about where they are now.

Remember to think: "-08" equals "00" - I know it's a bit inconvenient, but that is the best that can be done given the sensitivity of your amp/speaker combination.

PS: You can also use -10db on the main volume control as a reference if that is more convenient.

[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited December 24, 2002).]

Thanks soundhound. I do have the highly sensitive Klispsh setup. See the first post in this thread. I am at 101db, 99db adn 98db in my mains center and surrounds. I will do as you suggested and use the -8db as a reference 00 point and see if the trims stay as they are.

I will post as soon as the new 950 arrives. Hopefully soon!

Thanks for all of the support and suggestions you have given in this post and throughout the BB.

Scott

I have one of the new units that came with the red dot fix. I finally checked for the hiss & at 0 volume I can hear a loud hiss from about 3 feet away. I am using Klipsch speakers (ref 20's in front, C7 center & S6 dipole sides) Hiss is coming from it sounds like the tweeter horn, did not take the grill off the mains. Using ATI 1505. Does it sound like I need to exchange mine?? With volume up I can't really hear the hiss.