Monday, September 5, 2011

Probe Attenuation - The Overlooked Specification

The other day I plugged my iPod into my car stereo.  The music was soft so I cranked up the stereo volume.  The music was now loud enough, but it sounded terrible and hollow.  Suddenly I realized my iPod volume was too low and I was amplifying a very small signal.  As I turned up my iPod to supply a large signal to my stereo (and simultaneously turned down my stereo volume), I could achieve the same net loudness while getting a fuller sound.  How does this relate to measuring a signal with your oscilloscope?