Is there a noticable difference between how 2.2V and 4 or 5V pre-amp outs sound? I have 2 sets of fading 2.2V outs now, but I'm shopping around for a new head unit. Just wondering how heavily to weigh this feature. Thanks for any input.

 

YES!, yes and yes!!!

There is a big difference. If you are looking for sound quality over Db, then your $$ is much better spent on a high voltage preout.

A higher preout voltage gives the amp a cleaner signal. It also allows you to turn the amp gains allowing the amp to produce a much cleaner sound.

My Excelon x911 actually has the ability to output an 8.0v Balanced signal .... this is why I bought it.

Thomas

[This message has been edited by Stoopalini (edited May 10, 2001).]

 

I disagree. The cleanliness of the signal from a 2volt deck and a 4 volt deck is neglegable. Either has an output substantially higher than any noise floor. The only advantage to higher preout voltage is that you can reduce the gain on the amp, and in doing so, you drop the noise floor of the amp approx. 3dB, but any quality amp is going to have an inaudible noise floor anyway. Plus, the only time you have 4 volts is at full volume anyway. The rest of the time, you're at a VERY small fraction of that level.

If you're in a competition and you've got a SUPER quiet system, and the 0-bit test is being performed, sometimes there can be an advantage to 4 volts, but in any real-world case there is no noticable advantage. I challenge anybody to find noise in my system with my Alpine 2 volt deck. It's just as quiet as my other system that has a Kenwood PS 907 Excelon deck with 4 volt unbalanced pre-outs and even has a zero-bit noise gate.

------------------
The IROC Homepage
<A HREF="http://www.rit.edu/~jli4307/camaro" TARGET=_blank>
View the restoration of an 85 IROC</A>
"I didn't know a bored out Ford could go so slow" -Shenandoah

 

I hear noise! it sounded like a sneeze

Seriously, it all depends on the deck. A Jensen would sound terrible even if it had 4v output. The difference between 2.2 and 4v is so small you wont notice it. But if you were comparing a .5v to an 8v, i would say that you would notice a differece.

------------------
-Justin-
T-Top '86 5.0L LG4 700R4 WS6
T-Top '92 5.0L TBI 700R4
My '86 Firebird Homepage
The F-body Model Kit Pictoral Archive (updated 3/14/01)

There can be only one!!