Improved lumped Raman amplification systems are disclosed. A lumped Raman amplification structure provides optimized efficiency, low noise figure over a range of gain settings, and a high saturation threshold. Responsibility for amplifying different portions of the spectrum is divided among multiple stages. In one particular implementation, two outer stages amplify a first band and two inner stages amplify a second band. The two inner stages also apply a small amount of amplification to the first band. A modification improves noise figure in the second band by adding some amplification in the second band to the first stage.