New General seeing conflicting advice on mic gain settings. Some say crank it up to see 100W on the meter, others suggest much lower settings. Most rigs show only 30W average with proper mic gain configuration. The mistake is trying to see 100W average reading, maxing mic gain and processor, resulting in horrible audio and dirty signal.

Currently running FT-991A with stock MH-31 at gain=20. Average power shows 35W, peaks hit 85-90W. Is this correct for SSB?

Should I be concerned about low average power readings?

You're doing it right! Author runs mic gain at only 5% yet achieves full 100W PEP with 35% average - exactly where it should be. Peak to average ratios of 6:1 to 3:1 are normal, causing many to assume their rig isn't putting out rated power when seeing 15-35W average.

Too low mic gain gives weak modulation and low power. Too high engages ALC constantly, clipping and compressing audio into distorted pinched sound. Your 35W average with 85-90W peaks sounds perfect for speech characteristics.

That's exactly right for SSB. Correct microphone gain adjustment is the most important factor for readability. Excessive mic gain negates DSP and equalizer effectiveness. Don't chase that 100W average reading - it's a trap that leads to bad audio!