A multi-stage amplifier with a high signal-to-noise ratio is introduced. Multiple amplification stages are cascaded between an input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier. A controller switches the output stage among the multiple amplification stages from a normal mode to an attenuation mode in response to the amplifier input being lower than the threshold. In the attenuation mode, the output stage provides an attenuation resistor coupled in series with the load resistor of the amplifier. Noise is successfully attenuated by the attenuation-mode output stage.