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Amp, Preamp, two volume pots, there can be only one!

Hello everybody,

I have a question regarding the two volume knobs in my system and how they

should co-relate.

Here is my gear, both units are tubed:

Amp: Coincident Dynamo 34SE Mk1 (Output power: 8Wpc, Sensitivity: 300mV for full output, Input impedance: 100k ohms, S/N ratio: 92dB)

Preamp: Doge 8 2018 (Output impedance: 600 ohms, Input impedance: 50K ohms, Input sensitivity: 200mV)

Speaker: Proac 140 Mk1 (Sensitivity 91db, Amplifier Power Range 15 - 250 watts)

Now here is the dilemma, Coincident says if Dynamo is used a power amp the volume pot should be left open (heard that some call it a sensitivity pot too) but this introduces noise in the system (albeit when music is not playing) and leaves a very small usable range on the preamp volume knob, and hard to hit the sweet spot as at 9 o clock its already very loud.

So what would be the best way to run things without losing signal quality? And is there any mismatch between my power/pre?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

neverlast

Showing 1 response by erik_squires

erik_squires
16,644 posts
 

There's no technically best answer here, since the actual gain isn't being adjusted.  I think @mesch answer is pretty sweet though.

That is, I don't think the amp volume control will affect the character of the sound at all, just noise, so make yourself comfortable and find the range that works for you.

It's generally true though that most preamps have much more gain than we ever really need, some of that is historical, so you can turn up the volume to hear the faintest of signals on a radio, but in modern times I think it's time for that to be rethought.

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