Please explain pre/pro, seperates, amps. ect... - Blu-ray Forum

painted_klown · 11-11-2009, 01:24 AM

Hey all.

I am not sure if this has been covered on here before but at the risk of sounding like an idiot could someone please explain how a pre/pro setup works.

Here is my understanding of it. You buy a preamp/processor. This peice of gear does those two jobs only. Unlike a receiver there is no video switching, tuner, amp section, ect... I think it acts as a "decoder" for various audio sources and that is all.

Secondly, you would then purchase a power amp. This is where I get really confused. Are these power amps multi-channel? Or is there a seperate amp for every channel? Or is it several two channel amps?
Do you buy these components together? Match brands among them? Mix it up to meet your needs?
Then, how are all of these components connected? HDMI cables? Analog connections?
Is getting into a decent seperate setup extremely expensive? (expensive to me would be more than $700 per individual peice)
Like I said...I am unaware of how these set-ups work/what they do but I am intsrested in learning about these types of setups as it would be another world of options available to me when shopping or looking for HT ideas...or I will find that they are not for me.

Thanks, and I apologize for being completely in the dark about this...you gotta start somewhere though.

Intamin · 11-11-2009, 01:32 AM

A preamp is as basic as it gets. It just controls the volume of an audio signal essentially, and is almost always 2 channel only (with some exceptions). There is no decoding or anything going on (at least for most). For example, you plug in whatever analog connections you have, in my case a cd player and a turn table, to the preamp. There is then source selections on a preamp, as well as a volume control. You then connect the preamp to an amp with analog connections (RCAs), which can be two single channel amps called monoblocks, or a 2 channel amp.

If you are buying a processor, it does both video and audio, and can be connected pretty much however you want to do it, hdmi, digital connections (spdif, coax), or analog (rca). It also lacks a built in amplifier. It then does the decoding and processing, as well as serves as a preamp. You then send the signal to an external amp or amps, where depending on how many speakers you have determines what type of amp you send the signal to. You can go monos for all speakers, monos for the fronts and a multi channel for the rest, a 2 channel and a 3 channel, or a 5 or 7 channel amp, take your pick depending on purpose, space, and convenience. Hope that helps!

In my system, I use both essentially. I have a 2 channel setup that has a cd player connected to a preamp which is connected to a 2 channel amp. I then have a ht setup with a ps3 connected to a receiver serving as a processor that then sends the signal to a 5 channel amp.

painted_klown · 11-11-2009, 01:35 AM

Awesome and thanks. That explains it very well.

So a processor is the way to go for HT? With that no pre-amp is needed?

EDIT: I re-read your post and it already answered my question.

painted_klown · 11-11-2009, 02:31 AM

Sorry for the double post...well I did some quick looking around (Emotiva & Outlaw as they seem to be "entry" level seperates) and they are out of the price range I am able to comfortably afford.

Thinking of going with Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH. That is more in line with my budget and I am sure it will be light years ahead of what I am running now (a very old Kenwood HTIB). Thanks again for the audio lesson.

HAMP · 11-11-2009, 02:51 AM

You weren’t thinking about hooking up an amp to the Kenwood HTiB?

Since you are going with the Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, that will be a nice start. Remember just about everyone will take baby steps, not all but most. There is nothing wrong with taking your time to build up everything to be perfect for you.

If your going to start with the Pioneer Elite, then take your time with getting the best front three speakers you can. If you have to just start with the front two and then add a center and sub, from that you can create a five speaker surround or a seven speaker surround.

I think after all of that is done, then look into separates, that’s even if you need it.

zachd73 · 12-08-2009, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by painted_klown

Sorry for the double post...well I did some quick looking around (Emotiva & Outlaw as they seem to be "entry" level seperates) and they are out of the price range I am able to comfortably afford.

Thinking of going with Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH. That is more in line with my budget and I am sure it will be light years ahead of what I am running now (a very old Kenwood HTIB). Thanks again for the audio lesson.

If you are getting an amp for home theater, I think you would be really happy with the Pioneer Elite. I have a similar model and it's great. I have also tried had a Denon amp also and it was a great amp as well.

You will probably want to hook things up with HDMI cables assuming you have a t.v. that has HDMI.

11-11-2009, 01:24 AM	#1
painted_klown Expert Member Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Posting Unpopular Opinions 4K collection:1 Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:23	Please explain pre/pro, seperates, amps. ect... Hey all. I am not sure if this has been covered on here before but at the risk of sounding like an idiot could someone please explain how a pre/pro setup works. Here is my understanding of it. You buy a preamp/processor. This peice of gear does those two jobs only. Unlike a receiver there is no video switching, tuner, amp section, ect... I think it acts as a "decoder" for various audio sources and that is all. Secondly, you would then purchase a power amp. This is where I get really confused. Are these power amps multi-channel? Or is there a seperate amp for every channel? Or is it several two channel amps? Do you buy these components together? Match brands among them? Mix it up to meet your needs? Then, how are all of these components connected? HDMI cables? Analog connections? Is getting into a decent seperate setup extremely expensive? (expensive to me would be more than $700 per individual peice) Like I said...I am unaware of how these set-ups work/what they do but I am intsrested in learning about these types of setups as it would be another world of options available to me when shopping or looking for HT ideas...or I will find that they are not for me. Thanks, and I apologize for being completely in the dark about this...you gotta start somewhere though. Last edited by painted_klown; 11-11-2009 at 01:33 AM.

11-11-2009, 01:35 AM	#3
painted_klown Expert Member Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Posting Unpopular Opinions 4K collection:1 Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:23	Awesome and thanks. That explains it very well. So a processor is the way to go for HT? With that no pre-amp is needed? EDIT: I re-read your post and it already answered my question. Last edited by painted_klown; 11-11-2009 at 01:39 AM.

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11-11-2009, 01:32 AM	#2
Intamin Power Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Houston Home Theater Gallery:38 Blu-ray collection:318	A preamp is as basic as it gets. It just controls the volume of an audio signal essentially, and is almost always 2 channel only (with some exceptions). There is no decoding or anything going on (at least for most). For example, you plug in whatever analog connections you have, in my case a cd player and a turn table, to the preamp. There is then source selections on a preamp, as well as a volume control. You then connect the preamp to an amp with analog connections (RCAs), which can be two single channel amps called monoblocks, or a 2 channel amp. If you are buying a processor, it does both video and audio, and can be connected pretty much however you want to do it, hdmi, digital connections (spdif, coax), or analog (rca). It also lacks a built in amplifier. It then does the decoding and processing, as well as serves as a preamp. You then send the signal to an external amp or amps, where depending on how many speakers you have determines what type of amp you send the signal to. You can go monos for all speakers, monos for the fronts and a multi channel for the rest, a 2 channel and a 3 channel, or a 5 or 7 channel amp, take your pick depending on purpose, space, and convenience. Hope that helps! In my system, I use both essentially. I have a 2 channel setup that has a cd player connected to a preamp which is connected to a 2 channel amp. I then have a ht setup with a ps3 connected to a receiver serving as a processor that then sends the signal to a 5 channel amp.

11-11-2009, 02:31 AM	#4
painted_klown Expert Member Member since:Aug 2009 Location:Posting Unpopular Opinions 4K collection:1 Blu-ray collection:1 Trading Score:23	Sorry for the double post...well I did some quick looking around (Emotiva & Outlaw as they seem to be "entry" level seperates) and they are out of the price range I am able to comfortably afford. Thinking of going with Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH. That is more in line with my budget and I am sure it will be light years ahead of what I am running now (a very old Kenwood HTIB). Thanks again for the audio lesson.

11-11-2009, 02:51 AM	#5
HAMP Banned Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Michigan Home Theater Gallery:13 Blu-ray collection:272 Trading Score:1	You weren’t thinking about hooking up an amp to the Kenwood HTiB? Since you are going with the Pioneer Elite VSX-21TXH, that will be a nice start. Remember just about everyone will take baby steps, not all but most. There is nothing wrong with taking your time to build up everything to be perfect for you. If your going to start with the Pioneer Elite, then take your time with getting the best front three speakers you can. If you have to just start with the front two and then add a center and sub, from that you can create a five speaker surround or a seven speaker surround. I think after all of that is done, then look into separates, that’s even if you need it.

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