(newbie) Confuse in Amps & Receivers

[louisgce]

Hi All,

Sorry, maybe it is a idiot question, but really confuse what is the differents between Amps & Receivers?

Thanks

 

[mike c]

receivers are all in one units, which include built-in amps, tuners, video and audio switchers, pre-amp.

amps by themselves have no volume control and should be used with a pre-amp

 

[Haoleb]

An Amplifier only amplifies the signal to the proper level needed to drive speakers. there are many types, Such as Monoblocks which are simply mono amplifiers designed for one speaker, These are for the most part the best as they have seperate circuits for each speaker. Then theres 2 channel amps, 5 channel, 7 channel etc. A channel is what would be one speaker's ouput. So a 7 channel amplifier can drive 7 speakers with 7 different signals.

A reciever is an amplifier, but also in the same chassis are a preamplifier, and tuner, along with other complicated circuits such as processors and decoders that can handle not only audio but video.

There are many informative articles that may help you located here:

http://www.audioholics.com/education

 

[croseiv]

Amplifiers only have a power supply to amplify a sound or signal. They don't have a pre-amp or any of the other electronics found in receivers (AM/FM/XM phono video and surround sound processing).

Receivers have an amplifier(s) built in plus all of the other aforementioned electronics.

Generally, stand alone amps are better than those found in receivers because there's more room and better more robust parts (capacitors transistors, output stages etc.).

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

There are receivers, amplifiers, preamplifiers, preamp-processor or just pre-pro, and finally INTEGRATED AMPS, which is what I have.

They combine the Stereo Preamp with the Amp.

I believe Krell has an integrated amp for $15,000 and one for $2,500.

Marantz has an integrated amp for $4,000.