pre amp question

[Larry_Z]

Can someone please explain to me what a pre amp is for. Does it have any role in a home theatre setup. especially when you have a nice A/V reciever. Sorry if this has been gone over already.

 

[ScottCHI]

an A/V pre-amp would be used when amplification is provided by a "separate" power amp(s).

receivers perform the functions that both the pre-amp and amp(s) perform in a "separates" setup. so no, you don't need a pre-amp if you already have an A/V receiver.

 

[PaulT]

If I might expand on what Scott has said:

In Home Theatre, also sometimes refered to as pre/pro, where the pre is the preamp (which has the inputs/outputs, switches between the sources, etc) and pro is the signal processor section which does any of the conversion/decoding, for example Dolby Digital, dts, etc etc. The outputs go to the external amplifier(s) as has been posted above.

A receiver is the all-in-one box.

 

[Larry_Z]

I think i understand now, thanks for the replies.