Unity gain with tube buffer?

my Red Wine Audio Isabella tube preamp has a switch
that allows it to run on 0dB or 12dB. in 0dB it is a tube buffer because it is not adding voltage gain. it is a seriously good sounding battery tube preamp and my version has the built in isabellina dac and it is a pleasure to listen to every day. not cheap but worth every penny, imo!

- Nate

How does using the Isabella without gain compare with using it with gain? I'm working on the assumption that the process of gain can only damage the source signal and if you avoid gain stages, you do yourself a favor assuming a proper impedance match between source and amp -- with or without a buffer. I just don't understand how adding gain to a signal, only to attenuate can possibly sound better than a signal that does not go through all that gain - how it can it possibly help matters assuming sufficient volatage form the source to drive the amp to full power. I've heard arguments regarding the controlling of various ICs which can present a capacitive problem for certain equipment, but isn't that addressed by having a buffer (tube or SS)?

hey pubul57,

the sound with the 0dB or 12dB setting is awesome but for my system, i do not need the extra gain and vinnie recommended that if i don't need it, use 0dB. some power amps do not have much gain, so using the 12dB setting is needed in order to get the music to play loud enough. or some sources dont have enough output voltage, like some phono stages when using MC catridges. but fi you can get the music loud enough with the 0dB setting as is the case for me, i see no point of using the higher gain setting.

-Nate

I'm going to continue this thread on the Poll Active versus Passive thread to avoid duplication.