This is the latest in my issues to add/replace the CD player in a Rowe R-92.
I decided to just replace the CD player, as trying to fix it wasn't worth it.
I found out that i could use a Sony CDP-C910 (10 disc) as a replacement for the Pioneer PD-M40 (or PD-M403) - 6 disc.
I found one on ebay, got it delivered and wired up the +, GND, Signal, and Mute to the CD player. That part works fine (doens't even need an interace board). I can select any of the CDs and the tracks using the 5xxx from the Rowe. (We I get all this to work correctly, I'll post what I did for anyone else's reference)
Here is the problem: The C910 has both line out RCA, and variable. I have the CD attenuator so I plugged that in and wired it up to the AUX on the amp. It worked (the CCC unmuted the amp correctly) but the sound volume seemed pretty low (relative to the 45s). So I thought maybe the CD attenuator was cutting the sound too much. I figured I could make up a cable for for the RCA to the amp, which I did. I thought I could just use the variable (which has a range from 0 to phono to line out to full). I didn't want to overpower the amp. Even all the way up, it wasn't close to the volume of the 45s. I even tried it on the straight line out's and that didn't make any difference.
The sound is "ok", but it lacks the volume and punch that I'd expect.
I tried swapping out to a different CD player (straight line out) and it made no difference.
I tried switching to another amp that I had, no difference.
Now I guess the replacements could all be bad, but that seems odd.
There aren't any other controls on this to adjust. My understanding is, the AUX and the Phono are both connected and the amp itself doesn't differentiate between the two signals. They could both play if they were on, and the amp were unmuted.
Tonight I'm going to make up a new cable and see if that makes a difference, but since I had the same problem pre-made-up cable, I don't think that's it.
So what am I doing wrong?? I don't think there is anything else to adjust. Do I just have two bad amps, but only on the AUX side?