If Preamp Gain is Set to High-What Consequences?

Thank you Al, as always.

Foster 9 and Almarg, Obviously I had a brain fart - posted before coffee! :-)

But, changing the measured fixed gain of the pre-amp from voltage to db I think is the extent of my error ( :-)) unless I do not understand how most pre-amps work.

In pre-amps with which I am familar, in the basic circuitry the attenuator is placed before the amplifing stage of the pre-amp. Rotating the VC only changes the strength of the signal from the source to the pre-amp. It does not change the strength of the pre-amps amplifying stage which remains as it was set by Joule at 15db.

Am I wrong? How so?

Foster 9, FWIW and I don't know why it should be worth anything after my first comments, many pre-amp manufacturers suggest that the preferred VC position rests between 10 and 2 o'clock. Something to do with impedences I think, depending on the design of the VC, which makes some sense to me. If there is any validity to that it seems to me that it can be obtained by controlling the pre-amps fixed gain by reducing it internally, by reducing the gain as seen by the amp by attaching incased fixed value attenuators, reducing the strength of the signal of the source, either by initial selection or addition of inline attenuators (incased fixed value resistors). Personally I think there are too potential many tradeoff's trade offs to bother unless one is trying to minimize pre-amp noise, typically seen in a tubed unit.

Al, I always respect your comments and I'll look forward to you edification! :-)

Foster 9, Oh, the value of a re-read of your original post. :-)

To answer your specific question, I would not change the pre-amp gain from 15db unless Joule feels the changes it would make in the optimal position of your volume control (as suggested as possible in my last post) would make it worth while. It seems from your description of your VC's position that you only use it from about 9 to 11 o'clock. If your pre-amps gain as set by Joule were further reduced you would get more use of the VC, presumable a finer gradiation of volume changes and perhaps impedence changes. Al is much smarter than I on these matters, so he can advise or Joule can help.

FWIW. :-)

Almarg, Question that occurs to me arrising out of the use of tubed pre-amps and your measurements of the gain of pre-amp in your post which suggests that the gain of a pre-amp is contingent on the rotation of the VC.

My pre-amp has noise as seen by the amp. The line stage has 26db (a lot, I think, for old amps with more than 1.5 input sensitivity.) This noise is constant and doesn't change, with VC at 0 or max setting. It only changes when I put an in line attenuator between it an the amp. It doesn't change when I put an inline attenuator between a source and the pre-amp input.

Doesn't this confrim my assertion that the pre-amps amplifying stage is fixed? Do I need more coffee? :-)

Hi Newbee,

Depending on the specific design, the volume control can be located at or near the input of the preamp, or somewhere in the middle of its internal signal path (following an active input stage that receives the input signal), or even at the output in at least one case that I know of. See some of the preamp schematics shown at the Bryston site for examples of designs having the volume control function somewhere in the middle.

That is really a side issue, though. Regardless of where the control is located, if the preamp's gain is specified as 15 db it means that the output voltage is 15 db greater than the input voltage when the control is at max. Reducing the setting of the volume control from its maximum position will reduce that number correspondingly, most likely to negative numbers (corresponding to the output voltage being less than the input voltage) in the range of positions Foster_9 is using. That is very common these days, especially with digital sources.

Personally I think there are too potential many tradeoff's trade offs to bother unless one is trying to minimize pre-amp noise, typically seen in a tubed unit.

I agree, as I indicated at the end of my earlier post. Unless, that is, it is readily possible for Foster_9 to change the internal gain settings himself, in which case he may want to experiment a little. A consultation with Joule would also seem to be in order, as you suggested, to see if they feel that with this specific design any particular part of the volume control's range would be significantly more optimal to be using than other parts.

My pre-amp has noise as seen by the amp. The line stage has 26db (a lot, I think, for old amps with more than 1.5 input sensitivity.) This noise is constant and doesn't change, with VC at 0 or max setting. It only changes when I put an in line attenuator between it an the amp. It doesn't change when I put an inline attenuator between a source and the pre-amp input.

That would simply say that the noise is being introduced at some point in the preamp's internal signal path that is "downstream" of wherever the volume control is located, assuming it is not being introduced in the interconnect cable.

Best regards,
-- Al