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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
gochurchgo OP
946 posts
 
So it sounds like my hypothesis was wrong. Which is fine. And I appreciate the feedback as always. 
So semi-on topic question then is what’s the point of adding attenuators between amp and preamp?  Just curious.
rocray's avatar
rocray
1,542 posts
 
Aric Audio has preamps with adjustable gain. I run his Unlimited. I don't know if this is what your looking for.
tooblue
2,093 posts
 
I have used attenuators (10db) between my Audible Illusions 3B and amps to allow greater range of the volume controls, my Lamm LL2.1 has a 15 db attenuator switch on the front panel that I use as well for the same reason. Enjoy the music.
gochurchgo OP
946 posts
 
@tooblue  do you find that driving the tubes harder adds to the sound?

the 3B was a preamp I was looking at on the used market after glowing reviews and good words on forums about it.
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,628 posts
 
The gain of the amplifier has a direct correlation to the output of the preamp, if an amplifier especially a solid state amp ,Has too much gain it can impact also a higher noise floor 
I have seen this a lot with direct heated Triode preampsIt depends on direct or indirect tube circuit , there are many factors
tubes also , you didnot mention what types of tubes 
for example a 12au7 ,and a lower gain 5963 variant may be warmer sounding 
but have 15% less gain , you just have to turn the volume up a bit 
more to get the same spl levels , any time you add a another Attenuator or something in the signal path less sonic purity ultimately.
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