You swap in a new DAC or preamp and it immediately sounds better. Clearer, more dynamic. Then you realize: it’s louder. And louder almost always sounds better.
That’s where gain structure comes in. It’s one of the most important and misunderstood parts of system design.
Gain structure is about how much signal voltage each component puts out and how much the next one expects. If your DAC puts out 4 volts and your preamp expects 2, you’re already halfway to overloading the input.
On the other end, if your source is too low and the amp’s expecting more, you’ll run out of volume knob.
The ideal system has headroom at every stage. Enough output to drive the next component cleanly, without excess. Enough input sensitivity to capture the full dynamic range, without overload.
The goal isn’t just to get volume. It’s to preserve contrast. Microdynamics. The difference between a whisper and a scream, both delivered cleanly and in proportion.
Proper gain structure is one small reason it's often helpful to outfit your system with equipment from the same company.
