Explaining Amps

mara5
mara5 Posts: 54
edited December 2011 in Electronics
As usual I'm confused. Can anyone explain the differences between an amp, pre-amp, integrated amp? :redface:
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,913
    edited December 2011
    preamp generally will provide input switching, volume and/or balance controls, and may include tone controls or EQ circuitry (or, nowadays, all sorts of signal processing stuff). Traditionally, the preamp would also include a phono cartridge preamp/equalizer and possibly preamp/EQ for a tape deck's tape head. The output of a preamp is (typically) a standard analog audio signal "format" called a line-level signal. An amplifier is typically a power amplifier; its input is a line-level (analog) signal and its output is a high current, fairly low voltage signal to drive a low-impedance load (i.e., a loudspeaker). An integrated amplifier integrates the preamp and power amp functions.

    How's that?

    Just some photos I have hanging around, FWIW :-)

    preamp (Dynaco PAS-2X, with some "modernization")

    DSCN5590.jpg

    power amp (DIY stereo 2A3 single-ended, directly heated triode amplifier, 3.5 watts per channel, based on Joseph Esmilla's "Simple 2A3 amplifier")

    newamp.jpg

    and another, Marantz 8B (push-pull EL34 stereo power amp, 35 wpc)

    Marantz8B.jpg


    integrated amp (EICO HF-81, stereo preamp and stereo push pull EL84 stereo power amplifier for 14 blistering watts per channel)

    P1020749.jpg

    slightly more modern - harman/kardon A402 stereo integrated amplifier

    hkA402.jpg
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  • mara5
    mara5 Posts: 54
    edited December 2011
    Great, thanks. One more if not too much trouble. Why bother with an amp, or pre, if the integrated does both jobs? Or is this a Jack of all trades, master of none scenario?
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  • mdaudioguy
    mdaudioguy Posts: 5,165
    edited December 2011
    mara5 wrote: »
    Great, thanks. One more if not too much trouble. Why bother with an amp, or pre, if the integrated does both jobs? Or is this a Jack of all trades, master of none scenario?
    I think that's exactly the answer you'll get, although that doesn't mean there aren't some nice integrated solutions out there.
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  • lanchile
    lanchile Posts: 560
    edited December 2011
    mara5 wrote: »
    Great, thanks. One more if not too much trouble. Why bother with an amp, or pre, if the integrated does both jobs? Or is this a Jack of all trades, master of none scenario?

    Just read here for a little more info on it. if you are looking for more than 100watts RMS per channel...Just go separate!!!

    http://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.chuckhawks.com/integrated_amps.htm&sa=U&ei=bgzcTqSyIKL30gGtgNn0DQ&ved=0CBIQFjAB&usg=AFQjCNHuJxjSMpSmzB5_6MiG-ng6cPzU1A
    Make it simple...Make it better!
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 34,913
    edited December 2011
    Probably (?!?) the best answer to separates vs. integrated components is independent vs. shared power supplies.
    The other good reason (much more subjective) has to do with the performance/sound of a given preamp and a given power amp vs. an integrated amp. For example, I think that the power amp section of the hk integrated (A402) in my earlier post is quite good, but many folks feel that the preamp leaves a lot to be desired. Interestingly, in that particular amp, it is possible to use the preamp and power amp sections separately... so one could add another preamp to the A402's power amp if one were so inclined.

    edit: FWIW, I've owned, and enjoyed, this Yamaha integrated amp (with a separate tuner) since 1978 (with a pair of Polk Audio Monitor Series Model 7As, in fact). 45 wpc.

    P1020541.jpg
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