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Low gain amp system matching

Dear Audiogoner,

Need your advise regarding system matching with low gain amplifier.

- Audio Note ANE Spe HE Signature speaker: 98.5 dB when placed in the corner (and that is how it's setup in my room). I believe the impedance of the speaker is above 6 ohm for most of the frequency band.
- Audio Note M3 preamplifier: gain of 15dB with input sensitivity specified as "126mV for 1V output".
- My source/DAC puts out 2V signal.

Given the above, a low gain amp with input sensitivity of 2V for full output would work in my system? The stepped attenuator of M3 has 36 steps. 
radiohead99
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
Maybe an email to Audio Note UK is required...they do reply to queries.
The output voltage of AN DACs is 2.5V (unbalanced). All AN preamps are built to handle this amount of gain. The volume control on my M2 Special sits at 12:00 while using an AN DAC 2.1x Signature. There must be more at play here than the spec sheet.




lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
M3 gain is 15dB @ 1kHz.

kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,394 posts
 
@lowrider57   They had two versions of M3: pre i post October 2013.  Both have gain of 18dB

Here is user manual that reflects it:  

https://d1b89e86-9572-4311-9f80-60009b280608.filesusr.com/ugd/3e7c3b_cb9f60cb6a26418992b53df75192a77...
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,393 posts
 
You're correct, it's 18dB. I still read it as 15, my vision is poor.
jond's avatar
jond
5,661 posts
 
@lowrider57 Is right check with AN also an AN amp would be a natural partner with your other gear and they make all of their amps in both high and low gain versions.
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