Does the preamp voltage matter on a Headunit?
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Bronze Member Username: Jprix82Post Number: 45 Registered: Jan-06 | Does the preamp voltage matter on a Headunit yes or no and why? |
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Bronze Member Username: Jprix82Post Number: 47 Registered: Jan-06 | Do they help the amp not clip as much if the voltage is higher? |
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Anonymous | a higher preamp voltage will help send a better sound signal to the amp. and be less likely to pick up any interferences along the way there. |
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Silver Member Username: N2audioLawrence, Ks USA Post Number: 361 Registered: Mar-04 | right - it spreads the gap between the voltage of the music signal and the voltage of the noise included with that signal (There's always noise). People have been building great SQ systems for years and it wasn't that long ago that 1/2v pre-outs were standard, but higher voltage can only help. |
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New member Username: Spkr589Post Number: 9 Registered: Jan-06 | Exactly as stated above, and not only that, with higher preouts, you can keep the gains lower, which keeps the amp cooler all good. |
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Silver Member Username: Touche6784USA Post Number: 852 Registered: Nov-04 | how does lowering the gain keep an amp cooler? if you run the amp near its maximum output its gonna be hot regardless of the gain. |
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Bronze Member Username: Spkr589Post Number: 11 Registered: Jan-06 | If you have high preout head unit and set the gains properly the amp doesn't not have to work as hard thus it will tend to run cooler to get the proper voltage. The gains should not be maxing out if properly set. Lowering the gains mean the amp doesnt have to work as hard  |
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Silver Member Username: Touche6784USA Post Number: 856 Registered: Nov-04 | what?!? that makes absolutely no sense. you run the amp to max power you run it to max power gain doesnt matter. the gain would just be telling the amp to amplify the incoming signal more since the signal is too weak. you run a 100W amp to 90W its going to get hot. its not that hard to understand. |
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Silver Member Username: Touche6784USA Post Number: 857 Registered: Nov-04 | a simple google search on amplifier gain may be enlightening for you mark. http://www.installer.com/tech/gains.html |
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Gold Member Username: IlluminatorUSA Post Number: 2551 Registered: Apr-05 | Interesting link but he didn't say anything pertaining to the running temp of the amp. Technically, it seems like Mark is right and that's a good observation, but in actuality, it makes no difference (heat-wise) of what the input voltage is as long as the output is the same-which is basically what Chris is saying. Higher preamps are built mostly to just preserve the signal better-and I think people are getting too hyped up over that, even.
Actually, using an oscillo really does help. It's easier to see the clipped signal's waveform:  In the pic you can see the horizontal areas where DC voltage is present. Additionally, the gains are not volume controls. The gain controls are designed to match the amplifier to the head unit. Realistically, they are adjusting the sensitivity. |
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Silver Member Username: Touche6784USA Post Number: 858 Registered: Nov-04 | i know what he is trying to say and he is getting to a good point but it is an inaccurate thought process. i agree with you on the preamp hype. it seems like every other post asking for ideas on HU asks for one with high preamp voltage. i guess if its important to you than cant do much about it. cool pic. it really does make the clipping blatantly obvious. |
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