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what is gain?

H

hakan

Happy member again
Have been reading the tec doc of the DACT pre amp module

http://www.dact.com/html/line_stages.html

one can select three different levels on 'Gain', 0, 6, 12 dB

I have no clue what that means, can anyone help me by explaining it in a 'low tec language'

cheers and thank's in advance
Håkan
 
Håkan

Gain is a measure of how much amplification an amplifier provides.

If, for example an amplifier gives an output voltage of 4v with an input voltage of 2v the the amplifier has a voltage gain of 2. The gain is simply arrived at by dividing the output voltage by the input voltage.

However gain is more usually expressed in dB's. The voltage gain in dB's is calculated as follows:

Voltage Gain = 20 * log (output voltage / input voltage)

So with a 2v input and 4v output we get:

Voltage Gain = 20 * log (4/2)
= 20 * 0.301
= 6.02 dB

If you want power gain instead of voltage gain then the folrmula is changed to:

Power Gain = 10 * log (output power / input power)

Hope this helps
 
Hi!
think I understand now, so a 0 dB, would mean no amplification, and 6 dB about a double, and 12 dB is double again.
(since log 1 = 0)

Richard just told me that naim's got gain 12

thank's a lot!!!
cheers
Håkan
 
And now you know why a "100w" amp is little different to a "50w" one! A good 50w will always sound better AND louder.

Cheers,

Nic.
 
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