High End Preamps with Insufficient Gain

soupking · 5th March 2008

I have 4 Siemens v72's and 4 Quad Eight channels running into a 8 track 1/2" tape deck w/ a balanced (+4 db) connection.

Neither of these preamps have enough gain to go direct to tape. I know first hand. This is tape now, not digital.

I was curious if anybody else has had issues with respected high end preamps that don't provide enough gain without the assistance of another additional channel or mixer.

Hamburg58 · 5th March 2008

I have two V72's. I know the attenuators don't give it a ton of gain therefore making V72's and ribbons a bad match. However, I also use a Studer A-800 and it has plenty of gain to make it to tape. Might want to look into getting another power supply made or getting some new transformers.

NathanEldred · 5th March 2008

Tell us how your tape machine is calibrated. A +4 balanced connection doesn't tell us the whole story.

spockstudio · 5th March 2008

Most of the Tellies have a fixed gain of 34dB. They wont always give you all the volume you need, but clean units will sound outstanding for what they are. I am told any gain modifications would result in compomised sound.

5th March 2008	#1
soupking Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,337 Thread Starter	High End Preamps with Insufficient Gain I have 4 Siemens v72's and 4 Quad Eight channels running into a 8 track 1/2" tape deck w/ a balanced (+4 db) connection. Neither of these preamps have enough gain to go direct to tape. I know first hand. This is tape now, not digital. I was curious if anybody else has had issues with respected high end preamps that don't provide enough gain without the assistance of another additional channel or mixer. __________________ "Exceptional people talk about ideas. Normal people talk about things. Those with limited abilities talk about other people." - Quoted by Jim Coleman

5th March 2008	#3
NathanEldred Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2002 Location: West Coast Central Florida Posts: 7,242	Tell us how your tape machine is calibrated. A +4 balanced connection doesn't tell us the whole story. __________________ Nathan Eldred Visit Atlas Pro Audio

5th March 2008	#4
spockstudio Gear maniac Joined: Sep 2007 Location: New York Posts: 186	Most of the Tellies have a fixed gain of 34dB. They wont always give you all the volume you need, but clean units will sound outstanding for what they are. I am told any gain modifications would result in compomised sound. __________________ Steve Pagano SpockStudio www.SpockStudio.com "This monophonic recording is playable on monophonic and stereo phonographs. It cannot become obsolete"-- BEATLES '65 (album version)

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5th March 2008	#2
Hamburg58 Gear addict Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 382	I have two V72's. I know the attenuators don't give it a ton of gain therefore making V72's and ribbons a bad match. However, I also use a Studer A-800 and it has plenty of gain to make it to tape. Might want to look into getting another power supply made or getting some new transformers.