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RE: "I think everyone knows that"

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Tre'

In Reply to: RE: "I think everyone knows that" posted by 1973shovel on November 09, 2024 at 06:36:23

When the source being used outputs more signal voltage than it takes to drive the power amp to full power, then all "preamps" are just attenuators.

If it's just a pot or a TVC/AVC with no active circuit involved then it's passive. The unit in question is a passive attenuator with an active buffer stage following it.

I think the term "preamp" should be reserved for phono preamps. The rest (active or passive) are line stages. But that's just how I look at it.

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

Follow Ups:

then all "preamps" are just attenuators" - 1973shovel 14:14:07 11/09/24 (1)
True. And when that's the case, in theory at least, getting all the 'unnecessary' gain components out of the circuit ahead of the power amp should [note the italics] improve the transparency of the sound, I would think. Nelson Pass, in his B1 article wrote:

"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."

If you've never read it, his First Watt B1 Buffer Preamp article is linked below. Note that Pass was calling it a 'preamp' back in 2008, and guys were arguing whether Greenberg's should have been called a preamp back in 1995.

Your 'line stage vs phono stage designation makes sense to me, Tre', but we're swimming against the tide.
- The First Watt B1 Buffer Preamp (Open in New Window)
- Yep. nt - Tre' 11:12:58 11/10/24 (0)
  .
  Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
  "Still Working the Problem"

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