Why are the line input levels so low?
With the universal adoption of operational amplifiers and the enormous technological progress from which they benefit, manufacturers of professional portable audio equipment have not been able to resist fitting them with balanced, floating line input stages. From that moment, the standards organizations around the world have required that all line inputs on NAGRA recorders, if balanced, conform to the standards stated in this domain. At the same time, with the arrival of digital technologies, the dynamic range has evolved to reach 100dB or more. – The operational amplifier is a thermally noisy device. Despite this weakness, we must try to offer the largest possible adjustment range while maintaining the full dynamic range. – It is susceptible to saturation (determined by the power supplies). Here also, we try to clearly indicate the adjustment zone guaranteeing a working area without the risk of clipping. – Some users are concerned by high levels, whereas others request a greater input
