A gain of 4 (12 dB) actually isn't a bad choice. Sensitivity would still be high enough for an MP3 player or the like.
Typical values for input sensitivity in commercial amplifiers range from 150 to 200 mV. This was chosen for the typical 500 mV of phonopres, with some room to spare.
Obviously the higher gain after the volume pot, the more important low-noise design becomes. That's why some preamp designs actually split gain (look at Rod Elliott's pre, 6 + 6 dB) or get even more fancy.
That said, with the kind of power amp we're looking at in the 2226, a standard 5532 based pre with some attention to resistor values (each OP input seeing 1 kOhm max, volume pot 10k-20k max) should easily give very low noise even at 12 dB gain. Total voltage gain is barely 33 dB here. Even high-sensitivity horn speakers should show very little hiss at best, which I don't think the original pre can claim (the 250k volume pot would be sort of in the way of that).
Typical values for input sensitivity in commercial amplifiers range from 150 to 200 mV. This was chosen for the typical 500 mV of phonopres, with some room to spare.
Obviously the higher gain after the volume pot, the more important low-noise design becomes. That's why some preamp designs actually split gain (look at Rod Elliott's pre, 6 + 6 dB) or get even more fancy.
That said, with the kind of power amp we're looking at in the 2226, a standard 5532 based pre with some attention to resistor values (each OP input seeing 1 kOhm max, volume pot 10k-20k max) should easily give very low noise even at 12 dB gain. Total voltage gain is barely 33 dB here. Even high-sensitivity horn speakers should show very little hiss at best, which I don't think the original pre can claim (the 250k volume pot would be sort of in the way of that).
Math I can handle.
If the source is 2V, and the amp sensitivity is 1.5V, you don't need any preamp gain. There's already more than enough input signal.
As long as both devices use the same scaling. A source with an output of 2V p-p into an amp that runs 1.5 V rms will definitely need some gain to make it to full power.
G²
In the past consumer audio gear - power amps in particular - almost all defined the inputs in V rms. When I got my first CD player in '83 the output was 2 V p-p max. Later gear is similar. I only point it out as something for the OP to be aware of.
G²
You can agonise and analyse the figures all you like, the real question is how it works and feels in practice and whether the volume control range "feels" correct.
On a practical level we can say roughly that if a CD player outputs around 2Vrms as an absolute upper limit then that is "around" 6 volts peak/peak. So with a gain of four you need a preamp that will swing at least 24 volts pk/pk. Allowing for differences in individual player specs and so on that means supplys of -/+15 volt for the preamp and that a gain of 4 really is as high as you should go.
And as if to emphasise that point I just looked at the spec of my Marantz Pearl-Lite and that quotes 2.4Vrms output. That's 3.4 volts pk/pk so a gain of 4 on -/+15 volt rails isn't really enough and you would need -/+ 18 volts and definitely no higher than a gain of 4.
Umm, your math is wrong. 2.4V rms is 6.79 V p-p. See how it happens? - and you know what you're doing.
The point to me is defining exactly what you want / expect.
G²
I like the idea of a stepped gain stage as an option to a buffer for increased flexibility.
I now have all the parts needed and have started working out how to package them into a stand alone pre-amp.
1times (+0db), 2times (+6dB) and 4times (+12dB) seems ideal to cover most sources into most Power Amplifiers. +0dB is simply a vol pot and a buffer.
The gaps between the fixed gain steps can be covered adequately with an ordinary volume control.
I now have all the parts needed and have started working out how to package them into a stand alone pre-amp.
1times (+0db), 2times (+6dB) and 4times (+12dB) seems ideal to cover most sources into most Power Amplifiers. +0dB is simply a vol pot and a buffer.
The gaps between the fixed gain steps can be covered adequately with an ordinary volume control.
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