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Junior Varsity
Thoughts about amplifiers at 3/4 volume.
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<blockquote data-quote="David Wilkins" data-source="post: 27378" data-attributes="member: 671"><p>Re: Thoughts about amplifiers at 3/4 volume.</p><p></p><p>Gentlemen, </p><p></p><p>It seems our fellow forum member; Shane Presley has stumbled upon a question that has challenged the knowledge of our esteemed group. Though there have been 29 responses (at the time of this writing) I do not see the real answer to his question. Maybe those of you who really do know have stayed quiet, waiting to see what people really know and do. So here goes, flame suit on:</p><p></p><p>There are but three reasons that a competent installer/system engineer would raise the sensitivity of the power amplifier's input stage. In order of importance, they are:</p><p>1) Obtaining a system’s maximum dynamic range. If the mixer is capable of a +26dBu output and the amplifier will deliver max gain voltage with a signal of +4dBu when the attenuator is at its highest sensitivity, then that system has lost 22dB of dynamic range.</p><p></p><p>2) Maintaining the system’s lowest possible overall noise floor. Every component in the audio chain has a noise floor. If one component in that chain is operated close to its floor the system's overall noise is raised. You may have heard an improperly set gain structure that was so far from optimum that the entire system sounded "thin."</p><p></p><p>3) Because the system is capable of much more SPL than the gig or venue needs and the user never intends to operate at a point of over driving the amplifier's input--even if it is one of the few amps whose input can be overdriven by the mixer's highest signal.</p><p></p><p>I've only come across one amplifier whose input attenuator didn't operate like a true adjustable pad.</p><p></p><p>I’ll point you to what was given to me years ago that has been one of the most valuable tools to help me understand gain structure and to get the most out of a system.</p><p>Take this paper on gain structure to woodshed for a little study time.</p><p><span style="color: #0000ff">http://shure.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/58/0/filename/gain_structure.pdf</span></p><p></p><p>It has also be updated and is on the ProSound Web here: <span style="color: #0000ff">http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/how_do_you_set_system_gain_structure/</span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="David Wilkins, post: 27378, member: 671"] Re: Thoughts about amplifiers at 3/4 volume. Gentlemen, It seems our fellow forum member; Shane Presley has stumbled upon a question that has challenged the knowledge of our esteemed group. Though there have been 29 responses (at the time of this writing) I do not see the real answer to his question. Maybe those of you who really do know have stayed quiet, waiting to see what people really know and do. So here goes, flame suit on: There are but three reasons that a competent installer/system engineer would raise the sensitivity of the power amplifier's input stage. In order of importance, they are: 1) Obtaining a system’s maximum dynamic range. If the mixer is capable of a +26dBu output and the amplifier will deliver max gain voltage with a signal of +4dBu when the attenuator is at its highest sensitivity, then that system has lost 22dB of dynamic range. 2) Maintaining the system’s lowest possible overall noise floor. Every component in the audio chain has a noise floor. If one component in that chain is operated close to its floor the system's overall noise is raised. You may have heard an improperly set gain structure that was so far from optimum that the entire system sounded "thin." 3) Because the system is capable of much more SPL than the gig or venue needs and the user never intends to operate at a point of over driving the amplifier's input--even if it is one of the few amps whose input can be overdriven by the mixer's highest signal. I've only come across one amplifier whose input attenuator didn't operate like a true adjustable pad. I’ll point you to what was given to me years ago that has been one of the most valuable tools to help me understand gain structure and to get the most out of a system. Take this paper on gain structure to woodshed for a little study time. [COLOR="#0000ff"]http://shure.custhelp.com/ci/fattach/get/58/0/filename/gain_structure.pdf[/COLOR] It has also be updated and is on the ProSound Web here: [COLOR="#0000ff"]http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/how_do_you_set_system_gain_structure/[/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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Thoughts about amplifiers at 3/4 volume.
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