Whats the maximum peak to peak voltage an amplifiers input can handle

[Steben]

R.G thabk you so much for the explanation. I understand that different amps will have different requirements but i just dont understand how a Maxon 808 can output 35dbu and dont damage any amp

The pedal gives 35dB of "(relative) gain". That tells you nothing about current or power.
An input gets damaged by concrete values of voltage or current.

[Atodovax]

R.G thabk you so much for the explanation. I understand that different amps will have different requirements but i just dont understand how a Maxon 808 can output 35dbu and dont damage any amp

The pedal gives 35dB of "(relative) gain". That tells you nothing about current or power.
An input gets damaged by concrete values of voltage or current.

So am i reading simething wrong with ny scope? Should i plug the pedal into de amp and make the reading again? Conecting the output of various pedals to the osciloscope gave me more that 3volts peak to peak

[PRR]

>> Maxon 808 can output 35dbu and dont damage any amp
> The pedal gives 35dB of "(relative) gain". That tells you nothing about current or power.
> An input gets damaged by concrete values of voltage or current.

"35dB" (no unit) is a gain.

"35dBu" (no unit) is a voltage. re: 0.775V  (Based on traditional 1mW in 600r, but without a 600r load.)

But +35dBu (43V!!) seems unlikely for any 9V/18V pedal.

[Atodovax]

>> Maxon 808 can output 35dbu and dont damage any amp
> The pedal gives 35dB of "(relative) gain". That tells you nothing about current or power.
> An input gets damaged by concrete values of voltage or current.

"35dB" (no unit) is a gain.

"35dBu" (no unit) is a voltage. re: 0.775V  (Based on traditional 1mW in 600r, but without a 600r load.)

But +35dBu (43V!!) seems unlikely for any 9V/18V pedal.

Max Amplitude: 35 dBu
Thats what they advertise... Anyway i stilldont get it ... If max peak to peak voltage an amps input should be fed is 0.5, how is it that some guitars output more than double of that andeven withoutany pedal present. Shouldnt a preamp pedal destroy the amps input

[GibsonGM]

That .5 p-p voltage is just a 'reference', or convention. I routinely build boosters that output at LEAST 3V p-p.   The .5V is a level that people design to for no (or minimal) distortion.   Just a place to start from.   It's not about what will destroy the amp input.  As discussed - they are pretty sturdy.   

When a guitar peaks at 1V or more p-p, it is for an instant, not averaged.  A sensitive amp could produce a small pop, I suppose, at that moment.  Perhaps.  Then, you may not be able to detect it. 

As you are seeing, not everything that is advertised is accurate or true.    A chip may be theoretically ABLE to produce a gain of 1,000,000....but a 1V input on a 9V power supply simply cannot give 1,000,000 volts output

On 9V supplies, I would think that DC leaking into the amp input is of more concern...   

[idy]

Atodovax can: play a (clean) recorded guitar signal through a (clean) booster and into his (clean) amp. (A CD/mp4, or better a looper.) Measure the p-p on the o scope at low level. Listen to the "fidelity" of the sound. Turn up the booster. Listen again. Turn it up, all the way up, adjusting master volume as necessary. Does it start to compress and then clip? At what voltage?

A fancy pants guy would also put the O-scope on the output (maybe a dual trace if he is well supplied) and look at the wave shape under the same conditions. This simple experiment he could then share with us.

[PRR]

> Max Amplitude: 35 dBu Thats what they advertise...

That's on several websites, yes. Get the all-models PDF:
http://www.maxon.co.jp/support_n/download_n/userguide_effects/UMN-FSE-0401A_User%27sGuide-English.pdf
For the 808, it is MAXimum GAIN 35dB (no "u"). Which is quite believable (if you like distortion).

There's several other products in that sheet. It is instructive to compare them. Most specs look quite plausible to my eye.

The Compressor is rated +2dBu in 0dBu out.

The quieter devices are rated -100dBu(A) input hiss; the Phase toy is rated -80dBu hiss.