low gain vs. high gain

[olds1959special]

My pre-amp/headphone amp has a low and high gain setting. I have found by using the low gain setting I can max the volume on my integrated (power) amp and just control the volume with the pre-amp. Noise is pretty low so that's not an issue. What is the technical difference between the two settings in terms of how the amp operates? I have noticed differences in the sound quality of the low gain vs the high gain. What would I expect the sonic differences to be, assuming the volume level is adjusted accordingly? The pre-amp is a Xduoo TA-84.

 

[DVDdoug]

What is the technical difference between low and high gain?

If you adjust for the same volume it's a matter of where the gain is. Lower gain at the last stage means higher gain earlier.

And lower gain at the last stage means any noise fed-in from a previous stage is amplified less so the noise is lower and less noticeable.

Generally, the idea is to keep the strongest signal (without distortion) through the chain and then adjust it at the end. But convenience can also be an important factor.

I have noticed differences in the sound quality of the low gain vs the high gain. The amp is a Xduoo TA-84.

You have or haven't? If so, what differences? If there's a difference (besides loudness) it would be noise or distortion.

 

[olds1959special]

If you adjust for the same volume it's a matter of where the gain is. Lower gain at the last stage means higher gain earlier.

And lower gain at the last stage means any noise fed-in from a previous stage is amplified less so the noise is lower and less noticeable.

Generally, the idea is to keep the strongest signal (without distortion) through the chain and then adjust it at the end. But convenience can also be an important factor.


You have or haven't? If so, what differences? If there's a difference (besides loudness) it would be noise or distortion.

well, I think turning the class d integrated (power) amp all the way up was not a good idea. I'm not totally sure but I think there is some sort of high frequency noise that is above the range of human hearing that is irritating my tinnitus. I'm not sure if that makes sense or if it is possible or not? Anyway, the low gain sounds "warmer" but the high gain sounds "punchier" - both sound bad compared to my other DAC into the amp through XLR, set to 74 in the volume, and controlling the level with the amp. The improvement is huge without the tube pre and I have to keep telling myself over and over, this system does not need a tube preamp!

 

[Chrispy]

well, I think turning the class d integrated (power) amp all the way up was not a good idea. I'm not totally sure but I think there is some sort of high frequency noise that is above the range of human hearing that is irritating my tinnitus. I'm not sure if that makes sense or if it is possible or not? Anyway, the low gain sounds "warmer" but the high gain sounds "punchier" - both sound bad compared to my other DAC into the amp through XLR, set to 74 in the volume, and controlling the level with the amp. The improvement is huge without the tube pre and I have to keep telling myself over and over, this system does not need a tube preamp!

I think mostly you're just confusing things. How many class D amps have you used? Was it an integrated or a power amp....not the same thing. Tube pre-amps are useful how particularly?

 

[olds1959special]

I think mostly you're just confusing things. How many class D amps have you used? Was it an integrated or a power amp....not the same thing. Tube pre-amps are useful how particularly?

I have used a few class D amps starting with the Sonic Impact T-amp. They are integrated amps with a volume control but sometimes they are advertised as power amps, and in this scenario I'm using it like a power amp by raising the volume a lot and sending the tube pre output into it, which is kept at a lower volume. (I experimented with maxing the level on the integrated and using the tube pre in low gain mode to control the volume.)

In the end this system doesn't need a tube pre amp for any reason, but in my other system it works wonders - but that system uses actual power amps without volume controls.

 

[Chrispy]

I have used a few class D amps starting with the Sonic Impact T-amp. They are integrated amps with a volume control but sometimes they are advertised as power amps, and in this scenario I'm using it like a power amp by raising the volume a lot and sending the tube pre output into it, which is kept at a lower volume. (I experimented with maxing the level on the integrated and using the tube pre in low gain mode to control the volume.)

In the end this system doesn't need a tube pre amp for any reason, but in my other system it works wonders - but that system uses actual power amps without volume controls.

Integrated amps are different from power amps; a power amp may have an attenuator, tho. I'd generally max out the pre and use the power amp gain minimally, but depends on specific gear to an extent. Tubes I just don't see any valid reason to use myself and in a pre-amp more a why at all thing....