Any methods for objectively setting maximum phono gain without clipping inputs on the pre-amp/receiver?
I have a PC oscilloscope and can put signals through the hifi to it, so I can see, for instance, a 1khz sine wave from one of my test records - but it's recorded low so I cannot cause it to clip, even at max gain, whereas music clearly does clip as I can hear distortion. So, I was thinking there must be test records or other methods out there for pushing gain on the phono output to maximise the signal being passed but without clipping the inputs on the pre-amp/receiver when music is present? I have quite a few test records with all sorts of tracks, recorded at various levels, but no idea as to what levels are within spec from vinyl recordings and so which tracks I might use to push up gain, eg what is the maximum level of audio we should expect on vinyl?
Anybody have an objective method for doing this?
I have a PC oscilloscope and can put signals through the hifi to it, so I can see, for instance, a 1khz sine wave from one of my test records - but it's recorded low so I cannot cause it to clip, even at max gain, whereas music clearly does clip as I can hear distortion. So, I was thinking there must be test records or other methods out there for pushing gain on the phono output to maximise the signal being passed but without clipping the inputs on the pre-amp/receiver when music is present? I have quite a few test records with all sorts of tracks, recorded at various levels, but no idea as to what levels are within spec from vinyl recordings and so which tracks I might use to push up gain, eg what is the maximum level of audio we should expect on vinyl?
Anybody have an objective method for doing this?