Fixed Volume/Variable Volume with TV and Receiver

[Major Kong]

Is it better to use the fixed volume or variable volume on my TV if I not using the TV speakers and instead feeding the sound through a receiver?

If I use the variable volume should I have the receiver volume low and the TV high or the TV high and the receiver low?

[Q.E.D.]

The fixed volume outputs will give you a better impedance match, and therefore be distorted less. Although, honestly I can hardly tell the difference, if at all.

The idea of using the variable-volume outputs is to let the YV remote control the volume, so you have to deal with less remote swapping. Set it up by turning your TV volume to max and adjusting the receiver volume for the level you want maximum to be, then adjust your TV for your normal listening level.

[LordVor]

Originally posted by Q.E.D.
Set it up by turning your TV volume to max and adjusting the receiver volume for the level you want maximum to be, then adjust your TV for your normal listening level.

Sorry, but isn't this the exact opposite of what you want to do? I was taught that when you have two amps in a series (the tv amp and the receiver amp), you should keep the first amp turned as low as possible and use the second for bringing the signal up to a comforatble level.

This was explained to me to be so that the strong signal from the first didn't "burn out" the second amp. So then in this situation, you'd set the tv to about 1/4th, use the receiver to bring that to a comfortable level, and then you can use the TV remote to adjust, but you wouldn't ever turn the TV volume all the way up.

-lv

[Q.E.D.]

Originally posted by LordVor
Sorry, but isn't this the exact opposite of what you want to do? I was taught that when you have two amps in a series (the tv amp and the receiver amp), you should keep the first amp turned as low as possible and use the second for bringing the signal up to a comforatble level.

No, I've always gotten best results from my way. I suspect, but can't cite as of yet, that the ideal signal level (0 dB = 1 mW into 600 Ohms) occurs at max volume in equipment with a variable-volume output.

[dropzone]

We do it all the time. I'll admit to being surprised when I first saw a preamp being used to control the system volume but it works real well if it's designed for it.

HOWEVER!

Your system wasn't designed for it. The controlled outputs on your TV are designed to power speakers and therefore put out at least several watts. The inputs on your receiver, on the other hand, are expecting considerably less. You can blow up your receiver doing this. What would work better because the signal is weaker, but is still risky, would be to use the headphone jack as your source, if you have one.

[Q.E.D.]

Originally posted by dropzone
Your system wasn't designed for it. The controlled outputs on your TV are designed to power speakers and therefore put out at least several watts.

Uhh, no. The variable volume outputs on TVs and other similar devices are line-level outputs. The max is generally about 1 mW into 600 Ohms. Speaker-level outputs are normally labelled as such.

[dropzone]

Hmmmm, never encountered that on TVs. Just variable speaker level outputs and fixed line level outputs. But since the equipment I work with is either extremely high end where I would never consider using the TV's outputs (at work) or extremely low end where I don't have a lot of options (at home) my experience with the vast middle ground is limited.

[Crafter_Man]

Originally posted by LordVor
I was taught that when you have two amps in a series (the tv amp and the receiver amp), you should keep the first amp turned as low as possible and use the second for bringing the signal up to a comforatble level.

You were taught wrong. A power amp liked to see a fairly “healthy” signal on its low-level input lines, around 1 V or so. When the input signal is very low, you must compensate by cranking the power amp’s gain up. This will increase noise.


And of course, you don’t want it too high, else clipping and distortion will result...