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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Using a preamp with gain and volume control
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Message started by Karl on 05/25/26 at 20:17:15

Title: Using a preamp with gain and volume control
Post by Karl on 05/25/26 at 20:17:15

Hi all,

I have been using an Aric Audio preamp to drive my Torii MK IV. It is a good combination and both amplifiers use point to point wiring, good parts, simple circuits and VR tubes. The preamp has a pair of 60s Bugle Boy 12AU7s and is nice and transparent.

I have never used a tube pre before this. I have also never used a preamp with a gain control and a volume control. I noticed right away that the signal distorts if the gain is too high. My approach has been to set the Torii's volume at around 80%. The volume control on the preamp is a motorized Alps. That ends up at about 40% when I back off the gain so there is no audible distortion (to my ears).

I have read plenty about riding the gain here. My summary is try higher input levels to the Decware amps and see if you like the sound better. I have little experience with setting gain on a pre however. Is this similar to a bias control on amplifiers. Higher gain = higher tube bias? Should I aim for minimal gain on the pre?

What approach would you guys take? What should I listen for?

This isn't a big problem, the system sounds amazing, but I want to learn more.

-Karl

Title: Re: Using a preamp with gain and volume control
Post by Lon on 05/25/26 at 21:13:50

I advocate playing around and experimenting. I have ended up with a lot of gain coming out of the preamp with the gain/volume reduced on the amp. In my systems thsi brings body and texture to the overall sound and suits my rooms and tastes. A very different presentation can be summoned by reversing that method. And gradations in between the two methods.