Pre or Power amp volume?

veemo · 27th May 2011, 02:23 AM

Hi everyone!

I've been enjoying my stereo for about a year now, and I'm planning to upgrade from my vintage Kewood reciever to a diy phono preamp and power amp. as of now i'm looking at the ESP 06 preamp and a Gainclone power amp. Does anyone here have any suggestions as to where I should put a volume and tone controls? Should they be in the preamp stages or in the Gainclone? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Also, does anyone know how these two amps work together?

Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate the wealth of information on this site and I look forward to picking your collective brain in the future!

twest820 · 27th May 2011, 05:27 AM

If you analyze your signal chain to find the optimum gain configuration based on your listening levels and speaker efficiency you'll likely find the other variables aren't significant if you tack a couple resistors on the Gainclone's inputs to drop it to roughly unity gain (the LM3386's limited gain bandwidth and poor THD at typical listening powers means by the time you do the work to compensate it to be stable at unity gain one might as well pursue more capable options). More on the topic in this thread and, on the DAC side, this thread.

Andy5112405 · 27th May 2011, 07:24 AM

If the output impedance of the pre-amp and the input impedance of the power amp are closely matched then it doesn't matter where you put the volume control.

One school of thought is to place it at the input as it will attenuate any noise as well as the signal.

Generally though you may gety better results by placing the volume control between the pre and the power amps.

27th May 2011, 02:23 AM	#1
veemo diyAudio Member Join Date: May 2011	Pre or Power amp volume? Hi everyone! I've been enjoying my stereo for about a year now, and I'm planning to upgrade from my vintage Kewood reciever to a diy phono preamp and power amp. as of now i'm looking at the ESP 06 preamp and a Gainclone power amp. Does anyone here have any suggestions as to where I should put a volume and tone controls? Should they be in the preamp stages or in the Gainclone? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Also, does anyone know how these two amps work together? Thanks for any advice, I really appreciate the wealth of information on this site and I look forward to picking your collective brain in the future!

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27th May 2011, 05:27 AM	#2
twest820 diyAudio Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Orygun	If you analyze your signal chain to find the optimum gain configuration based on your listening levels and speaker efficiency you'll likely find the other variables aren't significant if you tack a couple resistors on the Gainclone's inputs to drop it to roughly unity gain (the LM3386's limited gain bandwidth and poor THD at typical listening powers means by the time you do the work to compensate it to be stable at unity gain one might as well pursue more capable options). More on the topic in this thread and, on the DAC side, this thread.

27th May 2011, 07:24 AM	#3
Andy5112405 Banned Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Torpoint	If the output impedance of the pre-amp and the input impedance of the power amp are closely matched then it doesn't matter where you put the volume control. One school of thought is to place it at the input as it will attenuate any noise as well as the signal. Generally though you may gety better results by placing the volume control between the pre and the power amps.

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