full Volume on power Amp?

[Thejamesjordan]

I've heard varying opinions. Should I Dime out my power amp and control volume/ settings 100% through the pre?

Thanks,

Andy

 

[jnewmark]

I try to set the tone I like on my preamp and then use the poweramp for loudness. But, as you said, everybody does it different

 

[BassmanPaul]

I've heard varying opinions. Should I Dime out my power amp and control volume/ settings 100% through the pre?

Thanks,

Andy

It's what I always do.

 

[Downunderwonder]

IGNORE ME I'M ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

 

[silky smoove]

It's what I always do.

Me too... At least I did when I had separates.

 

[BassmanPaul]

Me too... At least I did when I had separates.

It's what i do with all my PA gear too.

 

[bongomania]

That's best for signal to noise. If noise is't a problem it doesn't matter so long as you aren't blowing speakers.

...With the caveat that only sending too much power into the speakers can blow them.


Here's one way of looking at the preamp/power amp knob deal: The gain/volume on a preamp can be thought of as addition and subtraction. You add or subtract volume. The level knobs on a power amp, however, are like multiplication--it takes your preamp signal and multiplies it by the amount set by those power amp knobs.

Because of that, I tend to think of them like "coarse" and "fine" tuning controls, with the power amp being coarse and the preamp being fine.

Now, these are just convenient illustrations, they are not really a technically-accurate description. But it may help.

 

[oldbassplayergu]

dime the amp control the pre

 

[ajota_di]

For me, I generally keep the poweramp at about 1:00. 1:00 is generally the best knob position to operate at (be it power amps, rack gear, mic pre's, etc) and this will generally ensure that you won't blow your speakers.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

I've heard varying opinions. Should I Dime out my power amp and control volume/ settings 100% through the pre?

That'll be worse for signal-to-noise than turning down the amp and using more of the preamp's available headroom. But it probably isn't really critical.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

That's best for signal to noise.

Actually, it's worst for signal to noise.

 

[GrowlerBox]

For me, I generally keep the poweramp at about 1:00. 1:00 is generally the best knob position to operate at (be it power amps, rack gear, mic pre's, etc) and this will generally ensure that you won't blow your speakers.

This is nonsensical. Different manufacturers have differently tapered pots -- my 1 o'clock does not equal your 1 o'clock.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

For me, I generally keep the poweramp at about 1:00. 1:00 is generally the best knob position to operate at (be it power amps, rack gear, mic pre's, etc) and this will generally ensure that you won't blow your speakers.

There is no "best" knob position. It's adjustable for a reason.

Midway or so is a good starting point, but then you should adjust as needed.

 

[dincz]

This is nonsensical. Different manufacturers have differently tapered pots -- my 1 o'clock does not equal your 1 o'clock.

+lots

and also depends on the signal level arriving at the power amp. If it's high enough, you could blow your speakers at 1 o'clock or even at 9 o'clock.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

But which is the best position for metal???

 

[GrowlerBox]

But which is the best position for metal???

Dude, you're way outta touch. Didn't you hear? -- we all wanna know the best gear and setting for sine wave now.

 

[Lowest End]

I like really thick, saturated tone so tend to turn up the preamp level to where it sounds good, then use my power amp level for volume.

 

[MVPBASS]

For cleanest sound and maximum headroom, the poweramp should be turned all of the way up.

 

[Bob Lee (QSC)]

For cleanest sound and maximum headroom, the poweramp should be turned all of the way up.

That's not correct.

 

[jazzgeek79]

my two cents. if your pre has variable input and output then start with the amp dimed and use the pre's output to get to a reasonable level. if the amp itself is noisy then you can back off some, but i would use pre all the way off and amp all the way up as my starting point and then move knobs from there based on what i was hearing. if i had good volume but didn't like the tone i might back off the amps level and raise the pre's for example