Einstein The Tube users...help

Thanks for the explanation Boa2. I was confused a bit by the lower/higher sensitivity thing. It makes sense that Pass has a low sensitivity (not a lot of input voltage required to drive it to full output). So it seems that the Einstein must have too high an output? I will check about having it adjusted.

BTW, I am also going to audition the BAT VK-51se and it has an output of 50Vrms. Is this too high?

Can someone explain what the preamp output number means?

Thanks Boa2, In self defense, for the anal folks like me, I feel it necessary to editoralize on the issue of input sensitivity numbers and their actual meaning in practice. :-)

While the input sensitivity number is lower it means that the amp can be driven by a lower voltage from the source. What that actually means is its sensitivity is higher than for example if its rated input sensitivity were represented by a higher number. Sounds kinda ass backwards but thats how it works.

Thanks Boa2, In self defense, for the anal folks like me, I feel it necessary to editoralize on the issue of input sensitivity numbers and their actual meaning in practice

No worries. It was obvious you knew exactly what the issue was, and if I wasn't such an "Ernie Einstein", I'd have let it Pass. Boy, I crack myself up! In truth, if not for having had this issue with several components, how it works would still confound me.

Tbooe, in response to your other thread, my suggestion would be to keep the Einstein, and have its gain reduced. It's an incredible preamp, IMO. The issue you're having is simple to fix, and worth the minimal effort. What you will notice when you have the gain correctly matched is a tremendous improvement in the highs, and an overall richening of the music.

If you like, I can send you some cheapie fixed attenuators to use until you get this resolved. Email me privately if you like.

Boa2, I asked and the distributor's initial response is that he does think the factory will reduce the gain. I would have to use fixed attenuators. Does this affect the sound quality at all?

I would have to use fixed attenuators. Does this affect the sound quality at all?

Anything you add to the chain will affect the sound to some degree. However, having recently been in the same predicament, I found that using the stop-gap attenuators that I have affected the sound quality in a positive way, primarily because I was able to raise the volume on the preamp and involve it more in the overall sound. Making fixed attenuators with Eichmann bullets (or the like) is apparently not that hard. Some people like the Rothwells . I've not tried them. Purist and other companies who make adaptors may also make such an item, I'm not certain. The most important part thing is you would want good quality connectors. Again, if you want to try the ones I have, just send me an email with your address.

When I inquired with Lamm about the same issue, they said they could reduce the gain on the preamp for $85. Pretty cheap, huh? Does Einstein have a US service center? Adding a resistor to reduce your gain is an easy job for a good tech, and hopefully won't require you sending the unit to Germany.