2. amps-preamps
  3. 1173374721

No Pain No Gain?

I am wondering if anybody has some useful advice as to the true function of gain settings and their sonic effects other than volume control. I have a ML 32 which has the possibility set set gain for each input at 0/+6/+12/+18db and an EMMlabs CDSA-SE cd player that has a high/low gain option (I believe +14/+18db). What would be the optimal setting? Or is it totally based on personal taste, or is this functionality only really for matching volume levels for several differing sources?

Any helpful comments on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Henry
mtkhl567

Showing 4 responses by mtkhl567

mtkhl567 OP
157 posts
 
Thanks for all your response. At certain levels of higher gain settings I believe it amplified hiss levels, when they are already on the recording. So I am now inclined to have the pre-amp setting at 0 db gain with the EMMLabs player at high (+18db). I just love the absolute blackness, and silent parts - of musical passages - in Classical and Jazz recordings.

If and when I do get a record player, I guess we'll have to experiment with the gain setting/matching more carefully.

Regards
Henry
mtkhl567 OP
157 posts
 
Mr Tennis, I'm no bodybuilder, but they would argue that the opposite holds true for them, no pain no gain :-)

But the Emmlabs unfortunately doesn't come with a no gain option. The lesser the gain, the higher you need to turn up volume, the more you get distortion and/or noise. The best result for my system for now is high gain setting on the CDP and 0db or 6db on the pre-amp, depending on the CD recording. Great that I can change that easily by remote.

Regards
Henry
mtkhl567 OP
157 posts
 
Greg, I was not referring to my system's noise floor, which is very low. Only if you put your ear on the tweeter and turn the volume past 3 quarters you start hearing a little hiss. If you sit back 8 feet, you can't even hear it anymore. I was referring to theoretical S/N. Anyhow, I don't think the ML is faulty in any way.

Thanks Larry for your explanations. You're right about the matching of inputs, and currently I have only one. So much of it has to do with my perceived comfort of volume level and where the "dial" sits.
mtkhl567 OP
157 posts
 
Greg/Larry, thanks for your contributions. My experience so far is that with most music it really does not matter, its more with my personal taste on what volume level I'm used to and comfortable with. However, with some recordings there are significant variations from the "usual" volume level and at least its a plus to be able to adjust. I guess that it really becomes valuable when you connect different components, as you wouldn't have to continually adjust volume to match the components input level.

Happy Easter
Henry
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