I need a reverse attenuator

[inteificio]

Hi,

I have a small problem with my hifi which i hope you can help with.

I use my computer sound card to decode DVD's.
Its a £200 card so the quality is not as poor as you would think.

The only problem is that the sound level it produced is pathetic.
I have a 200w rms per channel amplifier and the sound level produced is not at a level i require!

I need to make a cut down preamp, no volume contoller no input selector just the low level amplification.

I have two questions:

A) what is the item i wish to make called?

B) Does anyone know how to make one?

I

[eLarson]

Hmm... reading this a second time (the first time I thought you meant it was too loud... I know it is at my house!)

What you are looking for is a little pre-amp circuit to give you some gain.

Do you know or can you measure the following?

-- the sensitivity of your power amplifier (that is, the signal level that when input will give you the maximum output)

-- the maximum output level of your sound card?

-- the input impedance of your amp. (If its low, perhaps the selected output from your card wasn't able to drive it well)

[moamps]

Hi Peter,

in the picture below you have the schematic of a simple 2 channel preamp with gain=11, supplied by a standard wall wart (DC 15V/0,3A). You can duplicate the schematic as many times as needed (for example, if you need 5 channels, you should make 3 copies). This preamp can be built, say, in a small plastic case on a veroboard (to keep things as simple as they can get).

Regards,
Milan