[Gibalok]

Hello.

Up to this time i have used high gain switch for RCA input from my tube pre to 4bsst2. I have red at another resource that low gain could give better sound giving more authorative to preamp.

I would appreciate to hear your experience how the sound changes in your case using 23 and 29 db amplification for single ended connection.

[CanadianMaestro]

I had 4B2 for a while, and used SE inputs on lower 23dB gain. For my musical tastes and room config, it was more than sufficient and allowed me to use a fuller range on the vol knob of my preamp back then (B100 and BP17).

I currently use 23dB from my 14B2, fed by LS27 linestage all balanced. Quite an improvement over 4B2 + B100/BP17. If I need gain adjustment, I now adjust the gain on my LS27, which has 3 settings.

Just do what sounds good to your ears, with your music.   

[Gibalok]

Well it seems that preamp by using volume knob is giving more "quality" watts to signal comparing to input stage of power amplifier? What is the reason? Distortion?

[CanadianMaestro]

Well it seems that preamp by using volume knob is giving more "quality" watts to signal comparing to input stage of power amplifier? What is the reason? Distortion?

Don't know -- just sounds more "right" to my ears. Haven't done any measurements, so don't know about distortion. I just like to have the vol knob around 25-45 (rather than 8-20 with higher gain on Bryston power amp). I do hear a smoother, more "silky" presentation with the low gain. But some tracks do sound better at high gain (29 dB), so as I said, set it according to the music and your ears.

[Elizabeth]

I find a definite improvement using the high gain side of the switch on my 4B-SST² amp, even though I am using the balanced inputs. (I tried the RCA inputs just to listen.. not great at 7 meters, but my amp is seven meters of wire away from the preamp, and a balanced IC sounds better.)

The sound is just cleaner with the higher gain set. (greater clarity, slightly less of a veil)

True it leave less room on the volume control. But the tradeoff is worth it, to me.

This sort of thing is what the listener hears makes the rule. And not anyone theory.
For me, the higher gain just sounds better. For someone else, with different ears, the other way might be thier choice.