All,

In general, we have noticed pretty low volume levels with our 70V landscape audio systems. This is with the taps on max with speakers from Martin Logan and Episode. Anyone else seeing the same thing? Subs play loud but the sats are relatively quiet unless you pretty much max the volume.

We are using the DSPs built into the Crown 1000 watt amps as opposed to going into the settings and doing things manually with the software. I'm wondering if there might be a volume limiter in the built-in DSPs as these amps shouldn't be this low.

Anyone else seeing the same issues? Note: With the Origin amps using the software, we are able to get a ton of volume but we haven't tried their amps with the Episode/Martin Logan landscape speakers.

Assume the Sonos PORT is being used as the source above...it has volume at 90-95% in the app.

Thanks,

I would suggest that you are using consumer level outputs on the Sonos, and the Crown is looking for a pro level input. There's a 14 dB difference between the two. You'll need a line driver to act as a stepping preamp between the Sonos and the Crown. RDL makes a dandy one. Others are out there as well.

What Fred said

I’ve used this one from Cleanbox.

[Link: artproaudio.com]

+1

Thanks all!

I found the first Sonance SLS I did last week had significantly less volume than all the Episode systems I've done. All of the Episodes were powered by either Crown CDI1000s or CDI2000s with a Cleanbox Pro. The SLS was powered by a Sonance DSP750MKii amp without a cleanbox. Sounded ok. It had a good 30 to 40 percent less volume so you had to crank it to max or near max to get any decent volume

How many speakers and which taps are being used? How are you calculating the taps that will be used and how are the input level controls set? If you use low power taps, you won't get much SPL even from a powerful amplifier.

For those using the Crown CDi series, are you using Audio Architect, or just the controls on the front? If the latter, you really need to download the software and use Audio Architect.

The link shows the CDi amp sensitivity as 1.4V, for full output. If you're connecting a Sonos directly to the amp, you'll never achieve full output.

The link also has Audio Architect for you to download.

[Link: crownaudio.com]

What Fred said. You'll also have this result if you accidentally connect to an amp channel intended to run 8 ohm speakers instead of a 70 volt distribution system. I know, it's too too obvious, but it's worth checking anyway.

Please share the solution with us.

Let us know if you plan on trying a Cleanbox Pro on the above Sonance system. I'm curious if it brings up your volume level........
In looking at the Cleanbox Pro info it seems it's for connecting consumer level unbalanced (Sonos Port, etc.) to a balanced output, which I believe is usually XLR on 70Volt systems. Though it does have RCA output on the balanced side.......
I don't know, I haven't dealt with this before. BUT I know what you mean by having a pretty low output on the Sonance amp........

Most 70V amps don't use XLR, they use Phoenix/Euro style connectors unless they're consumer brand amps that had 70V capability added to get attention from people who don't normally use them.

The CleanBox will allow increasing the level and you can use the RCA inputs to have signal from the XLR outputs.

RDL also makes an unbalanced to balanced converter, that I’m sure is much cheaper than the clean box. Comes as a decora device so many ways it can be installed in walls or racks.

From what I've seen, the RDL piece is more expensive then the ART piece. Either way, both are around $100 or less so shouldn't make any impact on the project cost if it helps with the finished product. This one SLS system I did is the first LS system I've done without a Clean box and I was left underwhelmed. It didn't sound bad by any stretch, just had a much more limited range of volume, which is where the Cleanbox would come in

What model RDL do you suggest. I have a similar issue

Any updates on this issue and what did you use to solve it?

[Link: rdlnet.com]