Yes, but the extent of the change depends on both the microphone and the preamplifier. All manufacturers will provide the gain (or attenuation when expressed as a negative value) usually in UNITS of dB (re 1V/Pa). The attenuation is SUBTRACTED from (or the gain added to) the microphone sensitivity to give the nominal SYSTEM sensitivity. For example, a microphone such as the 377B02 with a sensitivity of 50 mV/Pa or –26.02 dB (re 1 V/Pa) when used with a preamplifier such as the 426E01 with a nominal gain of –0.05 dB results in a nominal system sensitivity of–26.07 dB or 49.71 mV/Pa.

For this case, the change in the sensitivity is only -0.6%. Some preamplifiers available on the market can have gains as great as -0.3 dB, which will drop the sensitivity by more than 3%. The best way to account for the preamplifier gain is to calibrate the sensitivity of a microphone with the preamplifier. PCB® offers both individual microphone cartridges as WELL as combined microphone and preamplifier systems.

Yes, but the extent of the change depends on both the microphone and the preamplifier. All manufacturers will provide the gain (or attenuation when expressed as a negative value) usually in units of dB (re 1V/Pa). The attenuation is subtracted from (or the gain added to) the microphone sensitivity to give the nominal system sensitivity. For example, a microphone such as the 377B02 with a sensitivity of 50 mV/Pa or –26.02 dB (re 1 V/Pa) when used with a preamplifier such as the 426E01 with a nominal gain of –0.05 dB results in a nominal system sensitivity of–26.07 dB or 49.71 mV/Pa.

For this case, the change in the sensitivity is only -0.6%. Some preamplifiers available on the market can have gains as great as -0.3 dB, which will drop the sensitivity by more than 3%. The best way to account for the preamplifier gain is to calibrate the sensitivity of a microphone with the preamplifier. PCB® offers both individual microphone cartridges as well as combined microphone and preamplifier systems.