Newbie need your help (1 Viewer)

[tong chwen]

What is the different between receiver, amplifier, power amplifier, pre-amplifier and intergrated amplifier?
How to classify them?

Thank you...

 

[Eddie Horton]

Receivers have the power section which drives the speakers and the processing hardware and software for all types of Dolby Digital, DTS, and various other soundtracks. A receiver can also handle the switching of various components like CD players, DVD players, etc. An amplifier only drives speakers. No processing. A pre-amp, or pre-pro just does processing and switching. It does not drive speakers.

 

[Wayne A. Pflughaupt]

The “heart” and “brains” of any home sound system is the pre amp, aka “pre-amplifier,” or “control amplifier.” The pre-amp is where the tone controls and volume control are, and also the inputs for all the components. The pre-amp section also takes car of any processing – Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro-Logic, DTS, music surround sound modes, etc. The last thing in the signal chain of a pre-amp is the main volume control, which controls the levels of the entire system.

The amplifier is the section that the speakers connect to. It magnifies the pre-amp’s low-level signal to a high-level signal that can drive speakers.

A tuner is a radio, traditionally FM or AM/FM combined. Basically, a tuner is a program source just like a CD player, VCR, etc.

An integrated amp is a stand-alone component that combines a pre-amplifier and amplifier in a single chassis.

A receiver is a component that combines a tuner, pre-amp and amp in a single chassis.

Hope this helps.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt