Gain is the ratio of the output signal to the input signal in an amplifier or system. It is typically expressed in decibels (dB) for power or voltage. A gain greater than one indicates amplification, while a gain less than one indicates attenuation.
We need to bump up the gain on the input stage to get a clean signal above the noise floor.
Voltage gain and power gain are calculated differently; remember that 20 dB is a 10x voltage gain, but a 100x power gain.
Related terms
Amplifier
A circuit or standalone device that increases the power, voltage, or current of an electrical signal.
Op-amp
A high-gain electronic voltage amplifier with differential inputs and usually a single output.
Headroom
The margin between the nominal operating level of a signal and the absolute maximum limit before clipping occurs.