An AGC amplifier circuit has a fixed-gain amplifier, of which the gain is not
controlled by an AGC voltage, and a variable-gain amplifier, of which the gain
is controlled by the AGC voltage, that are connected in parallel. When the AGC
voltage is within a predetermined voltage range, the overall gain of the AGC amplifier
circuit is varied by the variable-gain amplifier; however, when the AGC voltage
is outside the predetermined voltage range, the overall gain is kept constant by
the fixed-gain amplifier. The minimum gain of the AGC amplifier circuit is set
to be equal to the gain of the fixed-gain amplifier.