Staticky Sounds When Volume Leveling and/or Headroom Mgmt Off

Roon Software Discussion
1

Hello,

Whereas other threads talk about volume leveling, or other DSP features possibly worsening the audio quality, my system seems to sound worse without it. I’m writing in the hopes you can help me identify what might be going on.

My Roon server’s on a QNAP connected via a Unifi switch to my Netgate router running PfSense firewall. My main system uses an Oppo 205 UDP connected to Parasound’s P7 preamp, and their A31, which powers my Revel F30’s. I recently had my tweeter’s replaced, but this same issue occurred beforehand as well. The Oppo’s output’s at a fixed volume, dynamic range control is off, and the filter characteristics is set to, “Linear Phase Fast.”

With volume leveling, everything sounds wonderful. Yes, things are a lot quieter (I turn the volume to around -55 to -60 on the P7), but it actually more closely matches the “normal” volume I use when watching TV or a BD movie (where the volume typically needs to go up to -64 to -72 on the P7).

When I turn volume leveling and/or headroom mgmt off however, the higher frequency notes become audibly staticky. It sounds like a horribly recorded mp3 or something. The volume also jumps much higher, forcing me to turn down the P7 to -45 to -40 or so, but the static sound is still there.

For reference, I also have my Macbook connected to Chord’s Mojo2 which is connected to a pair of PMCs active twenty-5 22i. With that setup, turning off volume leveling and/or headroom mgmt, only seems to affect the perceived volume. It’s much louder for sure, but there’s no static.

I guess I should also mention some equipment’s plugged into an APC S10 UPS (the QNAP, Unifi switch, and Netgate router), and the other’s are plugged into a Tripp-Lite Isobar. I used to plug everything into an APC S20 UPS, but it recently got fried. But again, the staticky-ness occurred long before the frying occurred. My apartment’s old and the wiring’s old. The breakers are old too; hence, the reason for the power protection.

In my room, on my system, I can hear a difference just moving my speakers a quarter of an inch in either direction. Even if there may not be an audible difference in sound quality between having volume leveling on or not, it’d be nice to actually try it out for myself. So, if anyone could help me track down possible things to troubleshoot, I’d certainly appreciate it.

Thank you!

2

Sounds like your hitting the limits of available headroom and this is actual distortion you are hearing caused by this, which is why the lower volume from the volume leveling is helping.

Either the Oppos output going into the Parasound is way too “hot” or there is an issue with its output.

How is the Oppo connected to the P7?

Have you tried enabling Headroom Management in Muse settings?

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Thank you @AceRimmer. My Oppo’s connected to the P7 via RCA from the stereo outputs (as opposed to the separate front left and front right RCA outputs). The P7’s connected to the A31 via XLR. I remember reading somewhere that XLR has more gain than RCA. Could that be part of this?

Yes, turning on headroom and/or activating volume leveling both work to address the fuzziness/static. It’s like if Miles Davis forgot to blow out the spit from his trumpet before playing and all we heard was raspberries instead of a pure trumpet sound. Even though turning on volume leveling or activating headroom fixes it, I’d still like to address the underlying problem if I can.

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Ok good, by that I mean that headroom management fixed it. Meaning it’s definitely hitting the limits and causing distortion in the system.

And yes XLR is generally a higher level output.

Sometimes 100% more voltage, all depends on manufacturer and application.

It could be the Oppo is overloading the P7 input , or less likely IMHO the P7 overloading the A31.

But for a test is it possible to connect to the power amp with RCA cable?

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The Oppo is definitely connected by RCA right now?

As specs say RCA output is 2.1v while XLR output is a whopping 4.2v which is really hot!

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Sure, I can do that. My A31 also has adjustment for gain of each channel as well, but I’m not sure if that’d work as a potential “fix.” However, I think connecting the P7 via RCA to the A31 first will help narrow down the potential suspects. I’ll try it later tonight and get back to you. To be continued….

Thank you so much!!

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Just reading the P7 manual and it does appear that it can produce as much as 8v output!

It is not entirely clear exactly how, from my quick search, but would be through XLR for starters I think and as you say there appears to be extra individual gain that can be used.

I think either trimming the gain or swapping to RCA would work as a test and if both are successful maybe just use your ears as to which method you prefer as it might be very subjective.

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Morning/Afternoon @AceRimmer I figured it out. I was reading through the manuals of the P7 and A31, and thinking, for all their talk about the benefits of XLR vs RCA, and given the fact the P7 only has one stereo XLR input (only RCAs for the multichannel input), they must account for the inherent level differences somehow.

I was watching a movie yesterday and remembered, I had adjusted the internal level controls of the Oppo after getting my PMCs (they pull double duty as my surrounds). The PMCs are much louder for some reason than the Revels, and I had lowered the level of the PMCs and increased the level of the F30’s to better align them. Well, after lowering the Revels back down to 0, the static disappeared. It makes sense thinking back, the Oppo doesn’t care whether the format is stereo, 5.1 or 7.1, the levels will always be adjusted for the respective channels. I didn’t realize increasing by a few dBs would make such a difference. It didn’t sound staticky playing movies. Regardless, I’ll have to go through the level matching again and just lower the levels of the PMCs even more, leaving the fronts at 0.0.

Thank you so much for your insight and feedback! It really helped talking it out.

-Matt

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