Gain - How to set it correctly

[Willie Garvin]

Hi,

Since I'm now playing more vinyl & with a new TT/plinth soon to be winging its way from BobC I now need to concentrate & set my hifi up as best as I can!!

Having left the gain set at zero since buying my Tag Mclaren PA20R pre I now want to find out how to set it up correctly with my system.

The gain dial on the Tag has 6 dB settings which range from 0dB, 3dB, 6dB, 9dB, 12dB & 15dB.

The system is bi-amped & the amps are two Harmon Kardon PA2400 power amps.

As an aside what is gain for & am I correct in thinking that not all pre amps have gain control.

Cheers,

willie g

[Tel]

You set the gain so that you get the full range use of the volume control.

The gain control should be used to sort out impedance mismatches between the pre and the power amps.

Experiment.

[clap]

I think it's fair to say that most pre's don't have gain control. Mine does I am glad to say. It allows you to fine tune the sound. You can ensure that the sound has more oomph, but not too much to become shouty.

[Tel]

It allows you to fine tune the sound. You can ensure that the sound has more oomph, but not too much to become shouty.

What on earth does that mean?

[rabski]

What on earth does that mean?

All these years with those amps and you've obviously learned very little. Basically, if the wribbling-squonge level from the grantcrust stage is set too high, then the squibble goes all scriddly.

[i_should_coco]

You set the gain so that you get the full range use of the volume control.

The gain control should be used to sort out impedance mismatches between the pre and the power amps.

Experiment.

I trust you mean level mismatches rather than impedance.

[Willie Garvin]

All these years with those amps and you've obviously learned very little. Basically, if the wribbling-squonge level from the grantcrust stage is set too high, then the squibble goes all scriddly.

[rabski]

As a pedant, I should point out that they're bloody useless as well. It should be 'Approved by the Plain English Campaign'.

[It Cost How Much!?!]

The best volume controls are those of DNM, where they go up to 13

Seeing that most amps & speaker fuck-up at high volume, realistically, most systems have to be run at no more than 1/2 volume.

[Tel]

I trust you mean level mismatches rather than impedance.

Yes

[applemarc]

or less