Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Liquid Carbon X Amp Discussions | Drop

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Massdrop x Alex Cavalli Liquid Carbon X Amp

Audiophile

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spongeebob560

Mar 2, 2018

Is anybody else's LCX extremely underpowered? I have its volume at max and the music is barely louder than the furnace blowing hot air through the vent about 10 feet away. The gain button is pushed in. What am I missing in the setup? My setup is iPad -> camera connection kit -> Cambridge Audio DacMagic Plus -> SE cables to LCX -> Massdrop HD 6XX connected via SE connection. I've tried using both Spotify and Plex from the iPad.

Mar 2, 2018

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EinTheVariance

342

Mar 2, 2018

spongeebob560that definitely doesn't sound normal. The DacMagic Plus by default runs in preamp mode rather than fixed line level output, have you tried turning up the volume on the DacMagic and seeing if you are getting more volume?

Mar 2, 2018

spongeebob560

Mar 2, 2018

EinTheVarianceAdjusting the DacMagic's volume knob has no effect when connected to the LCX. I'm currently listening using the DacMagic's DAC and amp (LCX disconnected), and everything works fine (and the volume knob works).

Mar 2, 2018

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EinTheVariance

342

Mar 2, 2018

spongeebob560hmm ok, and this is with the DacMagic on right? (some DAC/AMP combos can pass through without being powered on as the power only affects the amp part of the combo while the DAC is always on, not sure which DacMagic is). I just got home and tested the SE output with my R70X and while I could listen at max volume, it was definitely louder than a furnace 10 ft away so perhaps yours is defective or the DAC passthrough isn't passing sufficient voltage to the LCX. I would tell you to try XLR out from the DAC to the LCX but I imagine you don't have the XLR connectors handy.

Mar 2, 2018

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EniGmA1987

607

Mar 3, 2018

spongeebob560Ill try the SE output later and see if mine is quiet and let you know. I always use the balanced output and it is very loud.

Mar 3, 2018

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spongeebob560

Mar 3, 2018

EinTheVarianceIt was with the DAC powered up. Balanced connectors are a sometime-in-the-future upgrade, so unfortunately I can’t test that connection. My Gilmore Lite V2 works perfectly fine fed from the DacMagic so I don’t think there’s an issue with the DAC.

Mar 3, 2018

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spongeebob560

Mar 3, 2018

EniGmA1987Thanks, I appreciate it. Thinking back, I’m hoping the issue is user error. I think I plugged in the DAC and headphones before powering up the LCX. I then powered up the LCX while the DAC was off and waited for the light to turn white. Then I turned on the DAC and started playing music. Although I don’t see how it could make a difference, the instructions say to shut off the LCX after confirming the light turns white, and then making connections. I’ll get some more testing in this weekend and provide an update.

Mar 3, 2018

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EniGmA1987

607

Mar 3, 2018

spongeebob560Using a couple different pairs of single ended headphones that I have the volume seems to be fine. I also changed the balanced inputs I normally use to single ended inputs to the amp and it also has a similar volume (still plenty loud) to the balanced input type. Id have to guess there must be something wrong with the unit you received :/

I know what im about to suggest is the "wrong" way to do it, but try plugging the DacMagic's amp output to the inputs of the Carbon X just to test is the volume is fine. Turn the volume up all the way on the DacMagic outputs and then control the volume with the Carbon X. The Carbon has a rather low 10kohm input impedance, so high for a headphone port sure but it is much lower than the 50k-100k that a lot of amps have for their input impedance. So it shouldn't really be damaging to your DacMagic especially not for a short time of use. You would still be using the SE inputs which doesnt rule out a whole lot, but it will at least help you know whether it is an issue between the DAC outputs you are using or the cables connecting the two devices.

Mar 3, 2018

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spongeebob560

Mar 3, 2018

EniGmA1987Turns out my LCX is perfectly fine. It’s embarrassing, and a forehead slapping moment, but the LCX was on the wrong input! I could have sworn that the instructions said the SE input was with the button out and I hadn’t tried it the other way. But this does bring up another question: is it normal for music to be heard on an input that has nothing connected?

Mar 3, 2018

EinTheVariance

342

Mar 7, 2018

spongeebob560in my experience, some bleed from the other inputs where there is a single output is fairly normal. Since the SE input goes through the phase splitters and gets treated like the balanced input otherwise, it makes sense that you'd still hear from the other input.
Anyway, I'm glad to hear that your LCX is working fine. Better a silly mistake than finding out you have to get a replacement :) (I get myself in similar situations all the time when swapping audio gear around and it usually takes some head scratching and looking over everything in the chain 2 to 3 times before figuring out what I forgot to do).

Mar 7, 2018

Onslash

166

Jul 11, 2018

spongeebob560how does the dac magic plus hp out compares with the lcx? i have the dm plus while the dac is great the amp section seems underpowered.

Jul 11, 2018

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