2. amps-preamps
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Would increasing the gain in the amp give more weight to the sound? Any negatives?

I have an integrated amp with passive preamp section and I feel that the sound is not full-bodied enough. The separate phono stage has 42db of gain and I use MM cartridge. When I play cassette deck, the sound is just right in this respect.
I talked to the designer, and he said that increasing the gain is theoretically possible, though time consuming.
And if I do want to increase the gain - by how much? The amp is 120 watt/ch/8ohm, speakers are 89db efficient, 8ohm.
inna
inna OP
7,296 posts
 
The integrated has no either pre out or power in, so I would have to use regular line in input, this will bring compatibilty issues. Besides, I see nothing under $2k-$3k new worthy of my attention, plus $500 used interconnect, at least. Putting active preamp, preferably tube, in between phono and integrated is, of course, the first idea that I had.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
All you need to do is to move your volume control all the way up and use one of line inputs of your integrated with preamp of your choice. Otherwise to move the right way you simply need to go to separates from your integrated amp.
larryi
3,962 posts
 
I have not tried it myself, but, I know that some people increase the sense of body and weight by inserting a 1:1 "repeating" transformer into the line level signal (e.g., between the phonostage and linestage, between CD player and linestage, or between the linestage and the amplifier.  An example of a really good line level transformer is the old Western Electric 111c and 119c transformer.  This is discussed on some DIY sites, such as this:
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Would increasing the gain in the amp give more weight to the sound? Any negatives?
I have an integrated amp with passive preamp section and I feel that the sound is not full-bodied enough. The separate phono stage has 42db of gain and I use MM cartridge. When I play cassette deck, the sound is just right in this respect.
I talked to the designer, and he said that increasing the gain is theoretically possible, though time consuming.
And if I do want to increase the gain - by how much? The amp is 120 watt/ch/8ohm, speakers are 89db efficient, 8ohm.
If it's all loud enough for you to listen to and all output to input impedances are a good match  (>1-10 ratio) Then no, all he would do to get more gain is to reduce the feedback, and this has it's own problems. (eg: distortion, damping factor ect) 

But if your phono stage is tube and maybe high output impedance with capacitor coupling, then this could be the problem, what is your phono stage, make and model? And what is your amp?

Cheers George  
larryi
3,962 posts
 

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