With the Surround Master input level set to 12:00 the clip light will come on at about 1V level. Much of the vintage stuff was designed for lower level signals. An modern CD/Blu-Ray player will have a 0dB max level output of about 2V. A vintage phono preamp will have an out of 500mV or less. Of course that means the following input stage such as a tape loop will also have a matching level of sensitivity which is low and by that I mean quite sensitive compared to modern day standards. I see on your Sansui models line level input sensitivity is quite a low 180mV.
So, a rather low level output to the Surround Master means the input level can be adjusted up quite a ways with out clipping. But the SM also has gain. It means it could be delivering quite a high signal level to the Sansui tape inputs.
My advice, keep the input level high on the SM if it is not clipping. The output level controls have a +- 6dB range. Turn those down to accommodate. And of course you have master volume controls on the Sansui's, yes? Adjust those also to get the desired sound level output.
Have fun! The Surround Master is a magic box & well worth experimenting to get the most out of it.
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With the Surround Master input level set to 12:00 the clip light will come on at about 1V level. Much of the vintage stuff was designed for lower level signals. An modern CD/Blu-Ray player will have a 0dB max level output of about 2V. A vintage phono preamp will have an out of 500mV or less. Of course that means the following input stage such as a tape loop will also have a matching level of sensitivity which is low and by that I mean quite sensitive compared to modern day standards. I see on your Sansui models line level input sensitivity is quite a low 180mV.
So, a rather low level output to the Surround Master means the input level can be adjusted up quite a ways with out clipping. But the SM also has gain. It means it could be delivering quite a high signal level to the Sansui tape inputs.
My advice, keep the input level high on the SM if it is not clipping. The output level controls have a +- 6dB range. Turn those down to accommodate. And of course you have master volume controls on the Sansui's, yes? Adjust those also to get the desired sound level output.
Have fun! The Surround Master is a magic box & well worth experimenting to get the most out of it.
Thank you Sonic wiz !
Make sense now , I was wondering maybe I had a bad; Led ?
At the moment the frond speakers are running with the AU717 and the rear with the AU 555a so I manipulate the master volume controls of the two amps to get the right sound field . I will experiment like this to figure out the most about the SM but then I will hook it up to my QS100 and use it as a control panel “ as you have suggested at some point “
I have bypassed the internal amp of the QS100 by tapping the signal right after is decoded ( see picture below )
I’m feeding this signal to the DIN connector
(DIN connector disassembled from the circuit) then with a “DIN to RCA “ cable I feed the integrated amp , in this case the AU 555a
Cheers
Kostis