High Gain Amplifiers?

[mcstatz5829]

I'm curious what everyone's opinions are of important of gain on amplifiers. For example, I've seen some recommendations for PS Audio Amps, but the 30.5 gain scares me away a little. It seems counter-intuitive to me to have an amplifier gain so high that for many sources the preamp is going to be set at like -40. Am I crazy?

 

[Mr Peabody]

Maybe I've just gotten lucky I don't pay attention to the gain.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

That's an interesting question.

My Aries Cerat gear is super hot signal. In fact the DAC and Preamp have -6db toggle switches so they can be used with other gear that can't handle that hot a signal.

With all the gear coming and going, I use the switch more than I though I would.

Sometimes if too hot it will either induce a clipping sound or the volume dial stays so low as to not get into the "sweet range" of where the dial should be.

Interesting I've learned over the last several years different mfg.'s have different sweet spots for the dial with their gear.

So yes - you may have potential issues, especially if you have super efficient speakers as I do. Some gear has a channel imbalance when the volume is at very low settings.

 

[a.wayne]

A gain switch is good as it helps you gain match for best operating range for sonics and drive ..

 

[mcstatz5829]

Sometimes if too hot it will either induce a clipping sound or the volume dial stays so low as to not get into the "sweet range" of where the dial should be.

Yes, trying to get in the sweet range is what I am trying to do! But when I look at lines like PS Audio with preamps +12 and amps +30, and typical modern speakers with higher efficiency, plus louder sources, what are these people setting the volume to like -50 or something? Admittedly I have fairly limited experience and don’t have the budget to test a whole bunch of combinations, which is why I am overthinking it now…

 

[W9TR]

Not crazy. High amplifier gain often results in preamp volume controls being at 9:00 for normal listening levels. That’s just stupid.
Historic power amp input levels were 0.7 Vrms for full power. That’s lots of gain. Problem is, that gain also amplifies any noise coming out of the preamp, significantly reducing dynamic range.

Modern preamps have higher output levels, like 2 Vrms or 4 Vrms requiring much less power amplifier gain to get full output.

 

[Michaels HiFi]

Yes, trying to get in the sweet range is what I am trying to do! But when I look at lines like PS Audio with preamps +12 and amps +30, and typical modern speakers with higher efficiency, plus louder sources, what are these people setting the volume to like -50 or something? Admittedly I have fairly limited experience and don’t have the budget to test a whole bunch of combinations, which is why I am overthinking it now…

You need to know the stats on your amp to know which of the ones you need, Some pre amps have a high low switch right on them - Schiit does for instance.

 

[Bamalam]

mcstatz5829, I have PS Audio BHK600s in one of my listening rooms and have played with amp gain settings, either 26dB or 30.5dB. Given the output voltage of the pre amp in that system and the efficiency of the speakers, along with my listening style at a very moderate to lower level, I landed on 30.5dB through experimentation and long listening sessions across different music genres. Here are some additional thoughts on benefits and downsides of using the higher gain setting:​

Pros:

1. Increased Signal Strength: Higher gain boosts the input signal more, making it easier to drive the speakers or subsequent audio equipment.
2. Better Signal-to-Noise Ratio: In some cases, increasing gain can improve the overall clarity if the input source has a weak signal, as it amplifies both the signal and the noise, but the net effect can be positive if the original input is very low.
3. Greater Flexibility: Higher gain settings can be useful in situations with very weak input signals, such as microphones in noisy environments.

Cons:

1. Increased Noise and Distortion: Higher gain also amplifies any background noise or hum, potentially leading to a noisier output.
2. Reduced Headroom: High gain can cause the amplifier to clip more easily if the input signal exceeds its linear range, leading to distortion.
3. Less Control and Stability: Excessive gain can make the system more sensitive to fluctuations or interference, potentially causing instability or feedback issues.
4. Potential for Overload: With higher gain, even small input signals can overload the amplifier or speakers, risking damage or degraded sound quality.