How to use Expert pro 220 in a HC config ?

[FunkyMatsch]

Hello everyone,

I own an Expert 220 Pro, which I would like to use temporarily in a home-cinema installation.
I connected it to the pre-out output of a Yamaha RX-A4A (7X110 watts under 8 ohms) to drive the front speakers (line input, pass thru activated on the Expert).
After automatic calibration, nothing worked. The sound is unbalanced, awful. The fronts are at -10 db, the others at +10 db. Is it possible to use an Expert in conjunction with an HC amp? What conditions must be met for this to work? Thanks for your help!

(By the way, everything worked perfectly before, with an old Yamaha AX-596 stereo amp)

Matthieu

[Delija]

Fronts at -10 and others on +10 says that your fronts are too loud and AVR cannot fix/compensate it.

Gain is not ok - you need to lower it.

[FunkyMatsch]

Thanks for your answer. Does it mean lowering the db number in the pass thru option of the Devialet ?

[Delija]

Yes. What value are you using now?

[FunkyMatsch]

Yes. What value are you using now?

It is set on 0db right now (I didn’t touch this setting as I didn’t know how to use it properly).

[Hugh]

It is a bad idea, drop it. It is just a waste of time. Nothing to do between an “integrated” home cinema amplifier and a high end stereo integrated amplifier.

If you want a good sound for home cinema, try to find a “surround decoder” (multichannel preamplifier) and separate multichannel power amplifier(s)

[Delija]

Yes. What value are you using now?

It is set on 0db right now (I didn’t touch this setting as I didn’t know how to use it properly).

0 dB should be ok.
I use +5dB with Anthem MRX 720.

[Delija]

It is a bad idea, drop it. It is just a waste of time. Nothing to do between an “integrated” home cinema amplifier and a high end stereo integrated amplifier.

If you want a good sound for home cinema, try to find a “surround decoder” (multichannel preamplifier) and separate multichannel power amplifier(s)

Not true.

There is quite a number of high quality AVRs - Anthem, Arcam... You'll need to pay a lot to surpass them. I've tested some pre-pros like NAD M27 and Marantz AV8805 and stayed with Anthem. The only pre-pro which added some value was Trinnov - but it costs a lot and I don't need that level for surround - when I already have Devialet for stereo.

[Hugh]

It is a bad idea, drop it. It is just a waste of time. Nothing to do between an “integrated” home cinema amplifier and a high end stereo integrated amplifier.

If you want a good sound for home cinema, try to find a “surround decoder” (multichannel preamplifier) and separate multichannel power amplifier(s)

Not true.

There is quite a number of high quality AVRs - Anthem, Arcam... You'll need to pay a lot to surpass them. I've tested some pre-pros like NAD M27 and Marantz AV8805 and stayed with Anthem. The only pre-pro which added some value was Trinnov - but it costs a lot and I don't need that level for surround - when I already have Devialet for stereo.

Stay focused to the analogy of my post content to what the thread’s owner is trying to do. 

Did I say multichannel pre-pow combo sounds better than stand-alone AV receiver? NO

Think twice before making any comment saying that somebody else is wrong!

[Delija]

What analogy?

Top-tier AVR with Devialet as a "power amp" driving the front channels is a fantastic combo. As simple as that.