2. amps-preamps
  3. 180380-112009

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 2 responses by kijanki

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 

It totally applies there @kijanki - imagine 10 nV on the IC and then amplifying that small, medium or large.
 

Then you're talking about noise pickup by interconnect.  That was mentioned as second reason.   First reason was that amp with fixed gain and signal divider at the input will react the same way to electrical noise pickup inside of the amplifier at all positions of the input divider, while amplifier with lower overall gain will be less susceptible to electrical noise pickup inside of the box.

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,410 posts
 

Lower gain in amp and higher gain in pre could be better for two reasons:

- It moves more gain to electrically quieter environment (pre)
- It reduces relative electrical noise pickup by interconnect.

Of course it depends how power amp reduces the gain (my AHB2 has three gain positions).  If it is just divider at the input then first point doesn't apply, but reduction of IC noise pickup is still important.
 

More to discover