2. amps-preamps
  3. 163665-81086

Too much gain in preamp

I have the Edge S-1 preamp. I'm not sure what amp this would mate well with but when I use it with any of my SS amps I have way too much gain. When I turn the knob up 20% its full up. Obviously it is hard to set the volume with this situation. Should I be using this with a different amp? Or reconfigure something internally? Anyone know how to contact the manufacturer? 
thejeenyus54
yogiboy's avatar
yogiboy
5,661 posts
 
Use this SCHIIT SYS between the amp and preamp!
https://www.schiit.com/products/sys
jond's avatar
jond
5,798 posts
 
These will do the trick.
http://www.rothwellaudioproducts.co.uk/html/attenuators.html
aldoallen
29 posts
 
I don't know what your source of music is, but for me, I use jriver for playback of digital files on a computer with a Benchmark DAC. I can lower the gain through jriver or by making internal adjustments through the DAC. This may be an option for you. 
thejeenyus54 OP
17 posts
 
Great suggestions. Thanks!
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 



thejeenyus54 OP

Just read this from Nelson Pass very carefully and let it sink in, he can’t make money from saying it, in fact it would hurt his preamp sales.

Then go and buy a $49 Schiit Sys passive preamp, about 100 x less than your  Edge S-1 preamp
https://www.schiit.com/products/sys

Nelson Pass,

“We’ve got lots of gain in our electronics. More gain than some of us need or want. At least 10 db more.

Think of it this way: If you are running your volume control down around 9 o’clock, you are actually throwing away signal level so that a subsequent gain stage can make it back up.

Routinely DIYers opt to make themselves a “passive preamp” - just an input selector and a volume control.

What could be better? Hardly any noise or distortion added by these simple passive parts. No feedback, no worrying about what type of capacitors – just musical perfection.

And yet there are guys out there who don’t care for the result. “It sucks the life out of the music”, is a commonly heard refrain (really - I’m being serious here!). Maybe they are reacting psychologically to the need to turn the volume control up compared to an active preamp.”

Cheers George
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