I find this topic very confusing and sometimes wonder if manufacturers specify gain very differently.
For example, I once owned a GJ GAT preamp. rated at 25 DB of gain with a Border Patrol 300B amplifier around 27 DB of gain on 107 DB horns and listened to music at 75-85 DB with the volume setting at 50-60 on the GAT.....it goes to 100 steps. Then I owned a Gamut D3i preamp. rated at 5 DB of gain into a pair of YBA monoblocks rated at 28 DB (also CAT JL5 rated at (27DB) of gain into 88 DB sensitive Gamut speakers with volume pot around 11:00-11:30. My final destination on preamps. I am running the CAT Renaissance S-1 Black Path (latest model) rated 25DB on high gain and CAT JL5 at 27 DB of gain into the Gamut 88 DB speakers at 10:30-11:00. CAT has a lower gain setting of 15 DB inside the unit but I would not set it there with these components.
Of course this all depends on your source components also but mine are considered to be normal.....dac at 2.8V and cartridge at .5mv. I thought the high gain setting on the CAT might be too much but not so.
My conclusion is not very respectful of specified gains from the manufacturers.
The only sure way to be safe is to try the component in your system or adore a gain setting control on the preamp. which I think is a plus on any preamp. regardless of the noise it might introduce.
gwalt
For example, I once owned a GJ GAT preamp. rated at 25 DB of gain with a Border Patrol 300B amplifier around 27 DB of gain on 107 DB horns and listened to music at 75-85 DB with the volume setting at 50-60 on the GAT.....it goes to 100 steps. Then I owned a Gamut D3i preamp. rated at 5 DB of gain into a pair of YBA monoblocks rated at 28 DB (also CAT JL5 rated at (27DB) of gain into 88 DB sensitive Gamut speakers with volume pot around 11:00-11:30. My final destination on preamps. I am running the CAT Renaissance S-1 Black Path (latest model) rated 25DB on high gain and CAT JL5 at 27 DB of gain into the Gamut 88 DB speakers at 10:30-11:00. CAT has a lower gain setting of 15 DB inside the unit but I would not set it there with these components.
Of course this all depends on your source components also but mine are considered to be normal.....dac at 2.8V and cartridge at .5mv. I thought the high gain setting on the CAT might be too much but not so.
My conclusion is not very respectful of specified gains from the manufacturers.
The only sure way to be safe is to try the component in your system or adore a gain setting control on the preamp. which I think is a plus on any preamp. regardless of the noise it might introduce.
gwalt