Preamp gain ???

The Rothwell Attenuators will change (lower) the load impedance his BAT VK5 preamp will see, and being tube it (the load) may come down too far for it to perform at it's optimum, and could roll of the bass early as it is capacitor coupled.

[url]http://www.stereophile.com/content/balanced-audio-technology-vk-5-preamplifier-vk-6075-power-amplifiers-vk-5-measurements[/url]

Cheers George

I just stumbled across this post in a Google search and have some of these same issues. My current set up is as follows:
Cambridge Azur 551p preamp (39 dB)
Pro-Ject Debut III
Ortofon Blue 2-M cartridge (5.5 mV)
Jolida FX-10 amp (670 mV input sensitivity)
Dali Zensor 1 speakers

My speakers are somewhat inefficient with my amp. I was looking into getting a Budgie preamp for my system which has a gain of 38 dB. However the owner Shannon suggested that I get the Budgie Hybrid which has gain of 46 dB. His reasoning is below:

- The 42dB gain recommendation comes from the following calculations. The Jolida needs 670mV of input voltage drive to hit 10W. The Ortofon 2M Blue puts out 5.5mV. So 670mV / 5.5mV = 122 times gain or 42dB gain. With only 38dB, the amp can only put out 4.5W as it runs out of voltage drive. As I said in the earlier email, if you feel that the current gain arrangement is OK, then the regular Budgie should be fine. It has very similar gain to your Cambridge Audio 551P (38dB vs 39dB).

- You wouldn't ever have a problem with too much gain with the Budgie Hybrid. I think the 46dB rating is a better nominal gain for a wide variety of carts (HOMC and MM).

I'm still worried that the Hybrid may be too much gain for what I have and the gain on my system with the Cambridge sounds fine to me (but what do I know, I'm not an electrical engineer!). Any insight or input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

I find this topic very confusing and sometimes wonder if manufacturers specify gain very differently. 
For example, I once owned a GJ GAT preamp. rated at 25 DB of gain with a Border Patrol 300B amplifier around 27 DB of gain on 107 DB horns and listened to music at 75-85 DB with the volume setting at 50-60 on the GAT.....it goes to 100 steps. Then I owned a Gamut D3i preamp. rated at 5 DB of gain into a pair of YBA monoblocks rated at 28 DB (also CAT JL5 rated at (27DB) of gain into 88 DB sensitive Gamut speakers with volume pot around 11:00-11:30. My final destination on preamps. I am running the CAT Renaissance S-1 Black Path (latest model) rated 25DB on high gain and CAT JL5 at 27 DB of gain into the Gamut 88 DB speakers at 10:30-11:00. CAT has a lower gain setting of 15 DB inside the unit but I would not set it there with these components. 
Of course this all depends on your source components also but mine are considered to be normal.....dac at 2.8V and cartridge at .5mv. I thought the high gain setting on the CAT might be too much but not so.
My conclusion is not very respectful of specified gains from the manufacturers.
The only sure way to be safe is to try the component in your system or adore a gain setting control on the preamp. which I think is a plus on any preamp. regardless of the noise it might introduce.
gwalt