2. amps-preamps
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Gain / Amplification

Ok, dumb question maybe….maybe the more troll-like members could chill on this one.    I was just wondering, is there likely a quality-of-sound difference between utilizing maximum gain (say, out of a CD player, to keep it a simple scenario) and needing much less amplification from your amp, or is it in any way different to set your CD gain/output volume at a lower level and let your amp do its job?   Let’s say balanced connections, so that’s added gain as well.    
Question just kind of occurred to me when I fired up my Oppo for first time in awhile and it was **LOUD**.   Which is not an issue, I was just wondering, circuit design-wise and engineering-wise, should one or the other provide a better sound ?

 

JH

jhajeski

Showing 1 response by erik_squires

erik_squires
15,828 posts
 

Gain usually comes with additional noise. The less gain you have overall the less noise.

Phono stages have the most gain, and most prone to noise, followed by line level preamplifier circuits.

That is all in theory though. Over the last 20-40 years solid state has gotten very very quiet so it’s not usually worth sweating these details vs. say room treatments, listener location, etc.

The one pet peeve I have though is that most preamps still have WAY too much gain, maybe due to the days when radio might pick up a weak station and you had to compensate for it with the volume control.  If I used a tube pre especially I'd be tempted to reduce the gain quite a bit.

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