preamp voltage on decks...effect amp gain setting?

[M@nJo 10+ year member]

when i had my brutus bxi1606d matched with my pioneer p8-mp deck (6.5v preamp voltage), i had the gains set at 1 o'clock.

now i have the pioneer ib5900 (4v preamp voltage) with a bxi2006d and the gain is set at 3 o'clock. BUT when i had the p8-mp deck, it made my subs hit harder/amp push more power it seems. exact same subs, box, car, wiring, etc.

why is that?

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[blackbonnie 5,000+ posts]

more pre-amp voltage?

 

[jmanjr]

yes more output voltage from the HU to the amp would mean you need less gain, basically a stronger signal means your amp has to work less to meet your need for power

 

[thch 10+ year member]

my guess is that the output is less now. either due to settings or other issues.

the input signal is just there to tell the amp what to do. increasing the signal level and turning gains will not allow the amp to work less in a physical sense. the parts that get hottest still work with the same signals and still get just as hot. the actual amplifier itself should have a fixed gain for technical reasons, with the adjustable gain handeled by the pre-amplifier signal processing.

just remember that if a high voltage line driver made an efficiency difference, such would be exploited and amplifiers would advertise built in line-drivers.

 

[JonJT 10+ year member]

I'd say your gain setting is less agressive than it was before.