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Is turning gain all the way up necessarily a bad thing?
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<blockquote data-quote="JeepBeats96JGC" data-source="post: 6056433" data-attributes="member: 611751"><p>for all you donkey's that think a gain control is a volume knob...</p><p></p><p>Contrary to popular belief, an amplifiers gain control does not determine the maximum power that an amplifier can produce. As long as the preamp/drive signal has sufficient level, the amplifier will produce its maximum power output level. The gain controls are used to match the amplifer's gain to the gain of the other amplifiers in the system (in the case of a multi-amp system). The gain controls also allow you to match the amplifier(s) to the head unit. Not all head units have the same maximum preamp output voltage. Some head units are capable of producing 9 vrms out while others are only capable of 1.5 vrms out. note that a head unit will reach its maximum output level (clipping) well before the volume control reaches the upper end of its range (usually at a point of 85-90% of its maximum range).</p><p></p><p>The output of some decks will clip at less than 50% of its full volume when the loudness is engaged or bass and treble are boosted. Many of the low to mid priced head units have a maximum output level (before clipping) of 2 vrms. If a 100hz test tone is played in the head unit and the bass control boosts signal levels at 100hz by 10dB, the output would clip if the pre bass boosted signal would have been .63 vrms. In other words, If the output of the 100hz test tone is more than .63 vrms and the bass control was turned to its maximum level, the signal would clip. This would very likely be at less than one-half volume.</p><p></p><p>Clarification of Terminology:</p><p></p><p>Generally, when someone says that you need to 'turn the gains up', you need to make the amplifier more sensitive. When you make the amplifier more sensitive, it will take less input signal to to produce a given amount of power. The confusion comes in when you look at the gain control markings on the amplifier. If they are marked in volts, it's generally the amount of input voltage that it takes to produce full power. When you turn the gains 'up' you turn the gain control to a 'lower' (smaller) number. For example, the gains are higher at 2 volts than they are at 4 volts.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="JeepBeats96JGC, post: 6056433, member: 611751"] for all you donkey's that think a gain control is a volume knob... Contrary to popular belief, an amplifiers gain control does not determine the maximum power that an amplifier can produce. As long as the preamp/drive signal has sufficient level, the amplifier will produce its maximum power output level. The gain controls are used to match the amplifer's gain to the gain of the other amplifiers in the system (in the case of a multi-amp system). The gain controls also allow you to match the amplifier(s) to the head unit. Not all head units have the same maximum preamp output voltage. Some head units are capable of producing 9 vrms out while others are only capable of 1.5 vrms out. note that a head unit will reach its maximum output level (clipping) well before the volume control reaches the upper end of its range (usually at a point of 85-90% of its maximum range). The output of some decks will clip at less than 50% of its full volume when the loudness is engaged or bass and treble are boosted. Many of the low to mid priced head units have a maximum output level (before clipping) of 2 vrms. If a 100hz test tone is played in the head unit and the bass control boosts signal levels at 100hz by 10dB, the output would clip if the pre bass boosted signal would have been .63 vrms. In other words, If the output of the 100hz test tone is more than .63 vrms and the bass control was turned to its maximum level, the signal would clip. This would very likely be at less than one-half volume. Clarification of Terminology: Generally, when someone says that you need to 'turn the gains up', you need to make the amplifier more sensitive. When you make the amplifier more sensitive, it will take less input signal to to produce a given amount of power. The confusion comes in when you look at the gain control markings on the amplifier. If they are marked in volts, it's generally the amount of input voltage that it takes to produce full power. When you turn the gains 'up' you turn the gain control to a 'lower' (smaller) number. For example, the gains are higher at 2 volts than they are at 4 volts. [/QUOTE]
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Is turning gain all the way up necessarily a bad thing?
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