Amp's and preAmp's?

[xtreme02gt]

Can someone please tell me what you would use these for? My speakers will hold 100w each and my reciver puts 105w to each speaker, so why would someone need a amp? And what dose a pre-amp do?

[joegs300]

Good thread, OP. I am a little confused about this too.

[Hammie]

Here is my layman's definitions.

A receiver is a device that consists of both a Pre-Amp and an Amp on one nice package.

A Pre-Amp is a device that has all of the connectors and processing components.

An Amp is a device that amplifies the signal from the Pre-amp to the speakers.

I'm sure others will expand on my post if necessary.

[Beta Man]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

I'm sure others will expand on my post if necessary.

I'd say you covered it quite nicely.

[Oddiophile]

A receiver is a one box solution that has the processing and amplification in one chassis. A con of this approach is the ten pounds of sh*t in a five pound bag theory. You only have so much space to work with so by design engineers are limited to how complicated they can make them and how much stuff they can pack into them. Typically receiver only average half there rated power, so if you have a 100 watt X 7 receiver your only sending around 50 watts of power to your speakers.

Separates are a two chassis solution. The Preamp does all the processing and video switching, the amp is just that a separate amp. Being a two box solution designers can get more creative in what they can do, like bigger transformers, more complicated circuit boards, etc.

Separates are more expensive then receivers but IMO are superior in sound. A lot of people judge a receiver or amp by it's watts but its the current output that really drives your speakers. More current more thump, it's like in cars, Torque gets you going, horsepower keeps you going. Receivers do not putout a lot of current. If you want to take your system to the next level, look to separates for Superior processing and amplification.

I made the switch to separates about 6 years ago and don't plan on going back to a receiver.

[Opips2]

a consumer don't know about there a recevice has or not it pre-amp. If want it then your receiver sell it. A smart consumer know about receiver has pre-amp and in the future buy amplifier for large home theatre.

have enjoy watch a movie and less worry about that.

[Big Daddy]

Go to the Amplifier Manufacturers thread and read Post #2. It explains the differences between receivers and amplifiers.

[I Bleed Blu]

I'm gonna take a wild guess here and say you are probably NOT getting 105watt per channel to your speakers. Most manufacturers overrate these numbers, even Pioneer, Denon, etc. A true seperate amplifier will be very close to the reported numbers and most would say just all togeather sounds better.

[Drew664]

Could someone explain where the "safe zone" is for speakers and their listed max wattage?



I see people buying separate amps for their L/R/C speakers that given the power to 3 speakers would be massive - exceeding the speakers specs.

Any good rule of thumb?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Drew664

Could someone explain where the "safe zone" is for speakers and their listed max wattage?



I see people buying separate amps for their L/R/C speakers that given the power to 3 speakers would be massive - exceeding the speakers specs.

Any good rule of thumb?

There is no such thing. You can use a 1,000 watt amplifier on speakers that are rated 10 watt min to 50 watt max. Just keep the volume at a reasonable level. Most of the time, even at a very high volume, you are using a small percentage of the amplifier's power. Before you damage any speaker, you are more likely to damage your hearing.

[Intamin]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

There is no such thing. You can use a 1,000 watt amplifier on speakers that are rated 10 watt min to 50 watt max. Just keep the volume at a reasonable level. Most of the time, even at a very high volume, you are using a small percentage of the amplifier's power. Before you damage any speaker, you are more likely to damage your hearing.

QFT. The other end of the spectrum is that people tend to damage speakers by under powering them, thus driving their amps to clipping and burning out the fine wiring in the speaker.

[richieb1971]

I've heard different. Better to have an amp that is overly powerful and just have it on 15% volume than have a weak amp at 90% volume.

[xtreme02gt]

Originally Posted by Oddiophile

A receiver is a one box solution that has the processing and amplification in one chassis. A con of this approach is the ten pounds of sh*t in a five pound bag theory. You only have so much space to work with so by design engineers are limited to how complicated they can make them and how much stuff they can pack into them. Typically receiver only average half there rated power, so if you have a 100 watt X 7 receiver your only sending around 50 watts of power to your speakers.

Separates are a two chassis solution. The Preamp does all the processing and video switching, the amp is just that a separate amp. Being a two box solution designers can get more creative in what they can do, like bigger transformers, more complicated circuit boards, etc.

Separates are more expensive then receivers but IMO are superior in sound. A lot of people judge a receiver or amp by it's watts but its the current output that really drives your speakers. More current more thump, it's like in cars, Torque gets you going, horsepower keeps you going. Receivers do not putout a lot of current. If you want to take your system to the next level, look to separates for Superior processing and amplification.

I made the switch to separates about 6 years ago and don't plan on going back to a receiver.

Very Nice! Thank you.

So the pre-amp has the HDMI slots? So you would plug all your stuff into the pre-amp first, and then from the pre-amp to the amp, and the then from the amp to your TV? Right?

[prerich]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

Very Nice! Thank you.

So the pre-amp has the HDMI slots? So you would plug all your stuff into the pre-amp first, and then from the pre-amp to the amp, and the then from the amp to your TV? Right?

No - speakers to amp, amp to pre-amp, sources to preamp, preamp to TV.

[xtreme02gt]

So can I hook up a AMP to my receiver? That way I can just up the power of my receiver. If so, what is good amp? I don't need a $4,000 amp! But something good

[Beta Man]

I believe the 606 has "outs" on it.... someone may know for sure...

Many people here swear by Emotiva.... I'm looking into them myself, as they're an extremely affordable way to break into separates...... I do, however, have a yearning desire for warm tubes........

[xtreme02gt]

I am using the Sony STR-DG720 7.1


I would like to get the sub more power!

[crazyBLUE]

The 606 does not have PRE-OUTS !!!!!!!! That is wy I have A 663 at this time

[Clark Kent]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

So can I hook up a AMP to my receiver? That way I can just up the power of my receiver. If so, what is good amp? I don't need a $4,000 amp! But something good

If your receiver has pre-outs, you can connect separate amps to it with the receiver acting as a pre-amp. This is a good short-term solution to people who want to upgrade one piece at a time.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by xtreme02gt

So can I hook up a AMP to my receiver? That way I can just up the power of my receiver. If so, what is good amp? I don't need a $4,000 amp! But something good

Nope, the Onkyo 606 has no preouts