@radiohead99 Voltage gain of your preamp is about 8x. In order to obtain 0dB gain (2V input, 2V output) you need to set wiper at about 50% (12 O'Clock) position (to divide by 8). Since ideal position would be around 2 O'Clock (with extra gain for soft recordings) you are not much off. It is all assuming that you have logarithmic audio pot (most likely). Some companies use linear pot with loading resistor (Benchmark DAC1) - a little bit different characteristic.
Low gain amp system matching
Dear Audiogoner,
Need your advise regarding system matching with low gain amplifier.
- Audio Note ANE Spe HE Signature speaker: 98.5 dB when placed in the corner (and that is how it's setup in my room). I believe the impedance of the speaker is above 6 ohm for most of the frequency band.
- Audio Note M3 preamplifier: gain of 15dB with input sensitivity specified as "126mV for 1V output".
- My source/DAC puts out 2V signal.
Given the above, a low gain amp with input sensitivity of 2V for full output would work in my system? The stepped attenuator of M3 has 36 steps.
Need your advise regarding system matching with low gain amplifier.
- Audio Note ANE Spe HE Signature speaker: 98.5 dB when placed in the corner (and that is how it's setup in my room). I believe the impedance of the speaker is above 6 ohm for most of the frequency band.
- Audio Note M3 preamplifier: gain of 15dB with input sensitivity specified as "126mV for 1V output".
- My source/DAC puts out 2V signal.
Given the above, a low gain amp with input sensitivity of 2V for full output would work in my system? The stepped attenuator of M3 has 36 steps.
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- 9 posts total
Maybe an email to Audio Note UK is required...they do reply to queries. The output voltage of AN DACs is 2.5V (unbalanced). All AN preamps are built to handle this amount of gain. The volume control on my M2 Special sits at 12:00 while using an AN DAC 2.1x Signature. There must be more at play here than the spec sheet. |
@lowrider57 They had two versions of M3: pre i post October 2013. Both have gain of 18dB Here is user manual that reflects it: https://d1b89e86-9572-4311-9f80-60009b280608.filesusr.com/ugd/3e7c3b_cb9f60cb6a26418992b53df75192a77... |
- 9 posts total