Devialet Chat

Hi guys, I found when I playing music, that the db on the screen flashing in red from time to time, what is that mean? the volume isn't loud. 

Its a 1000 PRO.

It’s the clipping indicator. There may be some pointers or help here: https://devialetchat.com/Thread-dB-indic...ashing-red

(26-Apr-2019, 10:09)Antoine Wrote: [ -> ]It’s the clipping indicator. There may be some pointers or help here: https://devialetchat.com/Thread-dB-indic...ashing-red

Thanks mate. Um I never notice this before since I own it, is it a new feature in the recent released new firmware? Mine is constantly flashing...

Today I connected my rel sub cable into the speaker post and then notice the red indicator, shouldn’t this relate to my rel sub?

The volume was around 15db and playing on Spotify connect.

If you're using the high level speaker cable connection the REL shouldn't make a difference. The REL is not a heavy load, it only draws a small signal because it uses it's own internal amp. Although it's connected to the speaker outputs of the Devialet, the Devialet amp isn't really driving the REL.

You say your volume setting is "around 15 dB". Is that +15 dB or -15 dB. -15 dB shouldn't be an issue but +15 dB is good grounds to believe the amp is clipping.

You say you're playing Spotify connect. What device is the amp getting the signal from? Is there a digital volume control on that device? A volume setting of +15 dB should normally be very loud so if it isn't sounding lout to you and you haven't seen the clipping indication before, I'm wondering whether the device passing the signal to the Devialet has a volume control operating and that volume control is turned down a fair bit so you're increasing the volume setting of the Devialet to compensate. If that's the case the solution is to turn the volume control in the source device off if you can and stream a full strength signal to the Devialet (preferred option) or to turn the volume to max on the source device (not the preferred option because if the volume control on the source device gets turned down again, someone is likely to turn the volume on the Devialet up again and drive it i not clipping which can damage your speakers).

(26-Apr-2019, 13:31)David A Wrote: [ -> ]If you're using the high level speaker cable connection the REL shouldn't make a difference. The REL is not a heavy load, it only draws a small signal because it uses it's own internal amp. Although it's connected to the speaker outputs of the Devialet, the Devialet amp isn't really driving the REL.

You say your volume setting is "around 15 dB". Is that +15 dB or -15 dB. -15 dB shouldn't be an issue but +15 dB is good grounds to believe the amp is clipping.

You say you're playing Spotify connect. What device is the amp getting the signal from? Is there a digital volume control on that device? A volume setting of +15 dB should normally be very loud so if it isn't sounding lout to you and you haven't seen the clipping indication before, I'm wondering whether the device passing the signal to the Devialet has a volume control operating and that volume control is turned down a fair bit so you're increasing the volume setting of the Devialet to compensate. If that's the case the solution is to turn the volume control in the source device off if you can and stream a full strength signal to the Devialet (preferred option) or to turn the volume to max on the source device (not the preferred option because if the volume control on the source device gets turned down again, someone is likely to turn the volume on the Devialet up again and drive it i not clipping which can damage your speakers).

Hi David,

Sorry it’s -15db to -10db. I was running Spotify on my iPad and choose D1000Pro as speaker, so I assume Devialet is streaming directly from Spotify. The dB icon is flashing. It is very loud but not extremely loud, it will damage my speaker?

Clipping can damage speakers.

The amp shouldn't be clipping at a volume setting of -15 to -10 dB. If the amp is clipping at that volume setting then there's probably something wrong with it but I'd expect the protection circuitry to operate.

I think you need to raise the issue with Devialet.

(26-Apr-2019, 21:12)David A Wrote: [ -> ]Clipping can damage speakers.

The amp shouldn't be clipping at a volume setting of -15 to -10 dB. If the amp is clipping at that volume setting then there's probably something wrong with it but I'd expect the protection circuitry to operate.

I think you need to raise the issue with Devialet.

Thanks David. I will monitor it for a while and see if it happens again. The speaker still sounds fine.

I don’t think you can actually damage things when inputting a digital signal as I believe the Devialet protects against this (using soft clipping).

As to the reason, it could be the source material or perhaps the application of volume control or DSP inside Spotify. You could check if you’re using the ‘normalize volume’ setting or the equalizer. I’d disable both.

The red flashing is the input clipping, not the output. I thought it was only an indicator that the ADC was getting too high an input signal.
On mine I have only ever had it on the phono input and it is fixed by reducing the gain in the configurator.
I would guess that the file you were listening to was a typical "loudness wars" pop track that was hammering up against 0dB with maybe some inter-sample signal going above.
IMHO the problem is the source file type, maybe even music genre using this sort of recording technique, not the Devialet. If your volume control is set at less than 0dB the output won't be clipping at full level digital input. If the Spotify file is over modulated a bit less than 0dB may be needed for the output not to clip, but at -15dB there is no risk of the Devialet output clipping, if I understand the system correctly.
You were probably listening to a poorly recorded bit of music I'm afraid.

Edit: I have never used Spotify so I don't know if they do any manipulation to the files they stream.