This is the ratio of how an audio signal is amplified or reduced and sent through audio system's signal chain. An ideal goal is to get the appropriate output needed from the audio system without amplifying the original signal to the point of distortion, clipping, or to the point where it over loads or sets off limiting features of adjacent system components. Within this consideration, the operator must account for variables such as headroom (the ability of a system to accomodate large increases in audio signal strength without distorting, or clipping of system components) and signal to noise ratio (the ratio between the original audio signal and how much unwanted noise is added to the signal while amplifying it).
