From Sound & Vision archive. There, festering... inlays the goal:
Yes usually running a separate amp whether it be with a receiver as a prepro or a separate preamp, it does provide benefits. When using a separate amps you get added head room that you will not see in receivers as well as they are much more capable of handling heavier loads and being driven harder than receivers. While some receivers tend to do an ok job their amp sections always suffer because they are jamming everything in one box where as a separate amp is well and amp :P and nothing else. Separate amps tend to have a more robust amp section ( bigger transformers, more stored power on tap etc..). Most speakers tend to sound alot better with a good separate amp, they open up and can really play to their full potential. Also separate amps are good if you like to listen to your music or movies really loud and or if you have a really large room, witha good separate amp you can drive it to the volume levels you like and not have to worry about clipping as would be the case with receivers.
