Bi-amp ~ Pre-amp

ascienzo
ascienzo Posts: 48
edited May 2004 in Electronics
Hi again:

I keep reading both of these terms being "thrown around" a lot in here...

What's the difference between "bi-amping" and "pre-amping" or are they basically the same thing??

Thanks for your clarification. :D
H/K525avr
Fronts–RT55i [bi-wired]
Center–CSi40 [bi-wired]
Rears–RT38i
Sub–PSW404
Post edited by ascienzo on
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited May 2004
    They're completely different, about as similar as peanut butter and jelly...part of the same system but entirely different.

    I'll start with the simple explanation and...A preamp is an audio component, or in some cases part of one. Basically your typical receiver has three main sections:

    1 - preamp/processor - this is what takes a signal from a source and gets it into a form that can be fed to the amplifiers. It takes digital data and converts it into analog source,,,and bunches of other stuff. Think of this as the part of the receiver that you hook things like your CD player and DVD player up to.

    2 - amplifier - this takes the signal from the preamp and amplifies it and sends it on to your speakers. This is the part of the receiver you hook up the speakers to.

    3 - tuner - obviously just tunes in radio broadcasts.

    As people can afford to upgrade their systems, they start buying these parts separately. So I'll go buy a preamp, and an amplifier, and a tuner if I want one.

    As for bi-amping, that's a process in which you use two separate amplifiers to power one speaker (if that speaker is bi-ampable). Do a search on here for bi-amp and you'll find plenty of good info on that...

    Hope that helps...
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  • ascienzo
    ascienzo Posts: 48
    edited May 2004
    Thanks for the "101"


    So I understand that I own a receiver, that has a "pre-amp," "tuner," etc., built into the unit...now, with a set of pre-outs that are located on this receiver I can hook up a 2nd receiver or amp (usually with more wpc) and this would be technically speaking -- "bi-amping" --I think this is right?...

    One more stupid question--does the 2nd piece of equipment need to be an "amp" or can it be another receiver -- like a 2 channel receiver?

    Thanks for your time.
    H/K525avr
    Fronts–RT55i [bi-wired]
    Center–CSi40 [bi-wired]
    Rears–RT38i
    Sub–PSW404
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited May 2004
    Hooking up the second amp is bi-amping only if you're using both amps to drive 1 speaker. Bi-amping is using more than 1 amp to drive a speaker.

    I supposed you could hook up a receiver, but I've never heard of anyone actually doing this. I suposed it's theoretically possible if you wer to hook up to the CD inputs and use the second receiver in direct mode since theoretically the second receiver isn't doing anything. Again, that would be a highly unusual setup and I doubt you'd gain anything from it...

    The pre-outs on a receiver are designed for use with an external amplifier...
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited May 2004
    It's better to hook up an external amplifier to the pre outs. There's no reason to connect another receiver. The pre out is there for connecting an external amplifier. So when the upgrade bug hits again, you could look for a nice 2ch amp especially if you really enjoy music.

    Maurice
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