Okay, so I have to admit..for all my research I don't really know what this is supposed to do. I trust one of the resident geniuses could clear it up for me pretty quickly or reference me to the right article to do so.

I know it sounds absurd that I wouldn't know what this is really doing, but I never really got into car audio and as previously discussed my home components have been all in one until now.

Thanks,

Nick

Hello
I'm not an electrical engineer, the only thing I know for sure about electronic devices, is that you should never take them into the bathtub with you.

That having been said, a source like a CD player, or a microphone outputs a modulated electrical current at very low voltage. This signal is directed to the preamplifier which acts like a center on a basketball team, it sends the signal to the right place. For instance, you have a number of sources - CD player, record player, FM tuner, the preamp allows you to select the source and direct the signal from the source to the amplifier.

This low voltage signal is insufficient to drive speakers which are essentially mechanical devices so the pre amp sends the low voltage signal to the amplfier which amplifies the signal - that is, the low voltage signal enters the amplifier, which then amplifies the signal across the frequency range of the signal. Low voltage in, higher voltage - proportional across the frequency range - out. An amplifier has a power supply which provides the amp with the power to bump up the signal.

The ideal audio amplifier would instantly convert the low voltage current input to a proportionally higher current output across the entire frequency range. In other words, the ideal amp would "disappear" in your system, and act as if a larger current had been produced by the source in the first place.

Do not take any amplifier into the bathtub with you, especially if it is plugged into the wall socket.

i think it would be better if you explained it in a bit more simple terms.

An amp adds more power. You need an amp. Stereo411.com used to have a faq section with this sort of stuff but it seems they dont anymore. Go down to your local library or bookstore and check out Robert Harley's complete guide to high end audio. That should get ya started.

I see you said your home system is "all in one," so a few words about integration. "Separates," means that each component of your system is separate - Separate Sources - separate CD player, separate AM/FM tuner, separate tape player - Separate PreAmp - Separate Amplifier.

Integration. An integrated amplifier is an amplifier + preamp. An integrated amplifier allows you to connect one or more separate source inputs, provides you with the ability to select between sources from the amp, and outputs an amplified signal to the speakers.

Receivers. Receivers are the next step in integration, a source included in the same box with an integrated amplifier (preamp and amp). A stereo receiver gives you a source (FM tuner section), preamp and 2 channels of amplification. A home theater receiver gives you a source (FM tuner or for HT in a box, FM tuner and DVD player), preamp and amplification of 5, 6 or 7 channels.

Of course, your highest level of integration is your clock radio with built-in CD player and built-in speaker(s).

Right, I know about most of the pieces of a/v equipment. And I'll be getting a home theater receiver among a crap load of other stuff. I was just having trouble absorbing the needs of an amp. At one point I mentioned that I basically only need an amp if I was looking for more power but assuming I bought a quality receiver I would be fine. And I got a some what confusing answer.

I've of course gotten more confusing answers now, but I get your general point. I'll do some reading up on Amp's and decide what I need.

As always, thanks for the informative feedback.

-Nick

Hello Blair

Your question was, "What is an amp?" Is that what you meant to ask?

Haha..I think so. At this point who knows. I wish I could make this thread go away.

Thanks for the help.

-Nick

my dad was a war amp

Sorry to hear that! G'luck to him - and for what it's worth, you can tell him some guy on the Axiom website said thanks, thanks to your dad.

thanks very much for your kind thoughts.

He served in the Canadian Army as a motorcycle dispatch rider in WWII. He lost his leg above the knee in France and would have bled to death in a ditch if it hadn't been for his commanding officer who refused to leave him to die.

Of the 4 kids in his family who signed up (the youngest had to lie about his age) he was the only one to get injured. He met my mother while recovering in England and she ended up moving over to Canada with him in '45.

He never ever felt "handicapped", he enjoyed life and proved to be a very strong swimmer. He led a full life until passing away from cancer in 1993.

I often feel it but rarely say it, but we really do owe that generation a debt.

ok off my soapbox thanks for listening.