2. amps-preamps
  3. 151815-96791

General question about tube preamps and gain

I have a (possibly moronic) question unrelated to my previous thread. This is a general question about tubes and gain.

So say you buy a tube preamp and it sounds clean and clear. You decide you want that dark, syrupy sound (classic tube sound?). So you buy tubes that impart this sound on the signal and install them.

Now installed, you notice that the more you turn the preamp volume up, the more the tubes impart that sound on the signal. But you can’t play it loud. 
So could you, theoretically, put attenuators (lets say -10db) between said preamp and the power amp to lower the output signal which you’d then turn the volume up and drive the tubes a little harder to impart more of the tube’s sound at lower levels?

I hope this makes sense. It does in my head but that don’t mean much.


gochurchgo
clearthink
1,421 posts
 
mkgus"it also depends on the implementation: Class A, AB, B, etc."

I am not aware of any reputable manufacturer of components intended for use in Music Reproduction Systems that utilize, employ, or leverage Class B amplification for they're products so you're suggestion is nonsensical.
mkgus's avatar
mkgus
324 posts
 
My bad, Class B isn’t common. Let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water. 
enliten
44 posts
 
A properly designed tube line stage for home audio should not have issues vs 'volume level' In fact tubes inherently have more linear operating range signal-voltage-wise than solid state typically. +/- 50V swings are not unachievable. Driving the tube stage 'harder' for wetter (more harmonics) is what musicians do, not necessarily what we want in high end audio.

But if that is what you really want, look up "vacuum tube filament starvation" via a search. This may be what you're really looking for. It could also be an adjustable thing.
gochurchgo OP
892 posts
 
Thanks. I don’t know where my acquaintance was headed with his question. I feel like my new preamp sounds fuller as I turn it up but I thought that with the passive I had before so..

anyway, interesting things to think about here.
newbee
4,751 posts
 
gochurchgo, FWIW I think your experience re systems sounding fuller at higher volume is not unusual, but I believe it has much more to do with the speakers than one's electronics. Most noticeable  in the bass  but also in the soundstaging which really opens up at higher levels.
More to discover