Clipping and the pre amp...


Clipping,

So, as I understand it, clipping occurs when you drive a speaker at close to the amplifiers total output power. Where I lose comprehension on this thought, is when I modify the input to the amplifier. My preamp, an LS25 MKll, in addition to the volume control, has a variable gain switch. The switch is marked with Low, Medium, and High positions. The instructions are to run the preamp with the switch set on the lowest needed position for whatever source you're running at the time. Does it matter then, if I've got the volume turned up high on the preamp, with the gain set to low? Am I more likely to run into clipping as I'm asking the amps to push near their limits to amplify a smaller signal? Or, are the amps not working that hard, as they're not amplifying a big signal to a big volume?

The preamp remembers positioning for you from the last listening session, so it's a set it and forget it thing. I do find the sound more to my liking with the pre amp gain set lower, and the volume set higher.

Or, is this a mute question as it's all related to the speakers? In my case they'd be the Gallo Reference 3's...

Thanks,

Dave
rolloff

Showing 4 responses by rolloff

Sounds like a chicken and egg thing. In this case we know, you can't have an increase in the SPL's without increasing the level on your gain or your volume switch/knob.
I guess the answer then is, that if the gain is turned down, and the volume turned up, it's the same thing as if I had the gain on high and the volume at low, to the amplifier. Therefore, no clipping. This seems to be the logical explaination?
Actually, I'm not having any problems at all. I was only wondering, at the beginning of the thread, about the mechanics of clipping.The "overload problem" you mention is one I've not heard of in association with AR gear.
It works well for me though.
Your membership to the club is always guaranteed as long as your dues are paid up. I accept checks, cash, and credit cards.
Seriously though, SPL's are dependent on so many variables. Humidity, elevation, proximity to the speaker. Perceived volume would also be dependent upon these variables, and would include the acuity of ones hearing. What volume wouldn't include was the use of an SPL meter. Seems simpler to have a volume control knob if only for this reason...

:-)