TOPIC:

I recently added a mini DSP 2x4 HD between my Preamp (Yamaha C-80) and my Speaker amp (Yamaha P2200, JBL 590 speakers) and Subwoofer amp (Yamaha P3500, 2x passive subs) in order to implement proper high-pass and low-pass filters.

Today I had a chance to try it at louder volumes and was getting crackling sounds from my speakers during the peaks in the music.  I believe that I'm possibly clipping the inputs on the mini DSP.  The manual for the Yamaha C-80 preamp states 1.5v preamp output voltage, but 8.5v "max. voltage output".  This crackling is occurring between about 1-2 o'clock on the volume knob.  It seems like there is a good chance that I'm exceeding the 2v limit on the analog inputs of the mini DSP 2x4 HD.

Would my best course of action be to adjust the jumpers from the 2V to the 4V position on the analog inputs? Does this correspond with the intended purpose of those jumpers?

Preamp specs:

Monitor the input level meters with your computer connected.
That will reveal if you're clipping or not.

Dave.

Does the clipping stop when you set the input in software to -6dB for example?

I can also happen that you get clipping when you have peaks in your PEQ for example. If you have for example +5dB at some frequency, you have to set the global input attenuation to -5dB also to prevent clipping.

Are you boosting any signals with the EQ or crossover? That can affect your output gain and can also cause clipping. I would temporarily disconnect your speakers or turn off your P2200 and do this... Bypass your EQ and crossover so that there is no signal processing. Play Pink Noise through your C-80 and play it at maximum volume. Look at the input meters on the MiniDSP and adjust your input gain until you read 0 on the input meters. If you can't get it to not clip even by turning it way down, then switch your jumpers over to 4V and try again. 

Once you can get maximum volume to the MiniDSP and not clip the input meters, re-enable your EQ and Crossovers. Now look at the output meters. Adjust them to also be at 0 with no clipping. 

The last thing is to turn your P2200 amp back on. Turn the input gain of the amp all the way down and turn on the amp. With the pink noise still playing, turn up the input gain on the amp until you start to hear distortion and then turn it back down until clean. If you have trouble hearing distortion through the speakers, then switch to something like a 1kHz sine wave. Sine waves are easy to hear distortion from because if you clip at all, they sound like square waves. Turn up the gain on your amp until the smoothness of the sine wave become harsh and then back it back down until it's clean.

 

Thank you everyone for the input.  I do use some EQ, and I have some attenuation on my amps also since I use multiple amps and speaker pairs and I need a bit of leeway in order to be able to match everything up (and still be able to turn up the subs a bit more if/when I want to).

I switched the jumpers from 2v to 4v and it did fix the issue.  I'm glad that it had this option.