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Topic: Siignal input to AIWA amp (Read 2090 times) previous topic - next topic
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Siignal input to AIWA amp

I have connected my laptop, TV/CD player and casette player to my 40 year old AIWA amp 3070. The signal immediately sends my VU meters into the red. By adjusting the volume on the laptop i can control the volume enough to listen to the radio but sound from the other devices is so distorted that they are almost unusable. The amp itself works fine. Is there something on the market that i could buy to control the signal input?

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #1 –
When you say "the amp works fine", with what kind of input does it work? Is it possible that you are plugging these sources into a phono input?

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #2 –
There's no volume control on the amp?  What kind of amp is this?  Is it a basic power amplifier with one stereo-input and no gain/volume control? 

A power amp is normally used with a preamp, which acts as a 'control center' to select the inputs and control the volume, etc.

Or, an integrated amp (preamp + power amp) with multiple inputs, volume & tone controls, and speaker outputs?

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #3 –
That "amp" is a cassette recorder/receiver. The meters are for recording. Are you somehow overloading the record inputs while listening to the tape monitor? All external sources except phono go into line-level jacks. That unit likely has only one such pair of inputs. You need to find and read the owners manual.

http://www.radiomuseum.org/r/aiwa_stereo_c...er_af_3070.html

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #4 –
Quote from: ROZDO on
I have connected my laptop, TV/CD player and casette player to my 40 year old AIWA amp 3070. The signal immediately sends my VU meters into the red. By adjusting the volume on the laptop i can control the volume enough to listen to the radio but sound from the other devices is so distorted that they are almost unusable. The amp itself works fine. Is there something on the market that i could buy to control the signal input?


Yes, its called an attenuator.

Link to product page on Amazon

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #5 –
Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Quote from: ROZDO on
I have connected my laptop, TV/CD player and casette player to my 40 year old AIWA amp 3070. The signal immediately sends my VU meters into the red. By adjusting the volume on the laptop i can control the volume enough to listen to the radio but sound from the other devices is so distorted that they are almost unusable. The amp itself works fine. Is there something on the market that i could buy to control the signal input?


Yes, its called an attenuator.

Link to product page on Amazon


Thanks for that. I'm going to give it a go.

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #6 –
I am interested in fixed level attenuators (about 6-12dB) but to my surprise most of my googled results are quite expensive ($20+ for a pair of RCA ones).

I have little knowledge in electronics, I only know that $5 can buy a pair of decent, durable and professional looking audio cables and $40 can buy a transparent audio interface. What makes those attenuators so expensive?

Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #7 –
Quote from: bennetng on
I am interested in fixed level attenuators (about 6-12dB) but to my surprise most of my googled results are quite expensive ($20+ for a pair of RCA ones).


Welcome to the world of non-commodity and niche products/

Quote
I have little knowledge in electronics, I only know that $5 can buy a pair of decent, durable and professional looking audio cables and $40 can buy a transparent audio interface. What makes those attenuators so expensive?


Low production and sales volume.

http://www.arcade-electronics.com/Calrad-1.../cad-10-105.htm


Siignal input to AIWA amp

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Welcome to the world of non-commodity and niche products/


I think it is the most reasonable reason because I can find some very cheap XLR fixed level attenuators in the websites you provided but not the RCA ones!

Quote from: Arnold B. Krueger on
Low production and sales volume.

http://www.arcade-electronics.com/Calrad-1.../cad-10-105.htm


I seldom judge quality by apperance but I have a little class D amp and it is very sensitive to cables. I am not talking about very expensive and thick audiophool cables (I won't pay $10+ for a pair of 3-4 feet rca cables) but for example, I have 2-3 pairs of flimsy looking cables and connectors similar to the ones you posted and they will make crazy buzzing noises if I attach them to my amp. If I pay a bit ($5-10) to buy a pair of slightly rugged cables the noises will go away with complete silence. That's why I prefer attenuators without cables (and I don't need a pot as well).