Volume Control setting corresponds to how many db down (-db) from 0db at full volume?

I’m thinking out loud here & if i end up writing gibberish please excuse me.... Even if you know this you don’t know the transfer function of the power amp i.e. what input amplitude corresponds to what output power. It’s not linear; it’s most certainly logarithmic.

Hi Bombaywalla,

What you wrote certainly isn’t gibberish, but I’d feel pretty certain that to a very close approximation the transfer function of a power amp is linear. Notwithstanding the fact that it is often expressed as db of gain, with db being defined as a logarithmic function, as I’m sure you realize:

db = 20 x logarithm(Vout/Vin).

In other words while db of gain is computed logarithmically, Vout/Vin is a numerical constant (to a very close approximation), as long as the amp is operated within its capabilities, and assuming a constant load impedance. (The constant load impedance assumption being particularly important in the case of tube amps, since their voltage gain can be affected somewhat by the interaction of their output impedance with variations of speaker impedance over the frequency range).

Consider also that if an amp’s gain/transfer function were logarithmic, both distortion performance and dynamics would be severely compromised.

Regarding the mention of meters, before relying on any such measurements I would want to see a specification of both the speed and the bandwidth of the meter. First to assure that it is fast enough to capture the full amplitude of a high speed musical transient, and second to assure that it can capture the full range of audible frequencies.

It should also be kept in mind that recordings having particularly wide dynamic range, such as a lot of well recorded minimally compressed classical symphonic music, can require **enormously** greater amounts of power during brief dynamic peaks than the average amount of power that is required by the same recordings. For example a recording that is played at an average level of 70 db but reaches brief dynamic peaks of 100 db (and I have many such recordings in my classical music collection) will require 1,000 times as much power to reproduce those brief peaks than to reproduce the average level of the same recording.

Finally, if it is of any help I believe that the markings on the volume control dial of this Music First passive preamp represent db of attenuation, and I believe loosely approximate the attenuation vs. position characteristics of typical rotary volume controls on active preamps and integrated amps.

Regards,
-- Al

Bombaywalla, yes, that will work provided the meter has adequate speed and bandwidth.  And in fact about 35 years ago I had a Radio Shack audio power meter which worked in exactly that manner.

But the larger question I would raise about all of this is what's the point?  A brief dynamic peak in the music that is just 10 db louder than the level that is measured will require 10 times as much power.  A peak that is 20 db louder will require 100 times as much power.  In most circumstances most of the power capability of an amp is probably needed just for brief dynamic peaks.

It seems to me that it would be more meaningful to do an approximate calculation of the maximum SPL that can be generated at the listening position by the particular speaker/amp combo.  In past threads you and I have both posted info about how to do that.  For example see my second post in this thread.

Best regards,
-- Al