Pre in, Main out?

[RickH]

I'm really embarrassed to ask this, but I am very confused as to the terminology regading inputs and outputs. Could someone give me a simple
description. I never know when I am talking to people about a reciever, amp etc, if I should be talking about inputs or outputs. Sorry to be so dumb about
this. thanks!

 

[markw]

You've got it backwards.

If you look at these things in terms of the direction of the signal flow, you'll get it.

Whatever it is, it starts at the source. Be it a tuner, DVD player, phonograph, etc...

Then it goes to an preamplifier, where source selection generally takes place. This can he part of a receiver, processor, integrated amp or whatever.

Finally, it goes to a power amplifier, which, in turn, goes to the speakers.

Now, looking at this logically, the output of one stage feeds the input of the next stage. Right? Does that answer your question?

 

[j_garcia]

"Main out" is an output from the preamp stage of the receiver before the amplification stage. This is not common on most receivers, generally only seen on the highest models.

 

[markw]

"Main out" is an output from the preamp stage of the receiver before the amplification stage. This is not common on most receivers, generally only seen on the highest models.

I've always seen this referred to as a "preamp-out", which feeds into a "main (or power amp) in".

To my simple thinking, a "main out" would be a speaker connection

 

[MDS]

I'm with you mark. I've seen 'main in' on older equipment but that is pretty much nonexistent nowadays.

A set of pre-out/main-in jacks would be useful to add an external processor and would probably only be found on an integrated amp. I think the idea is that you send the signal out of the pre-amp portion into the processor to be processed and then back in via the main-in to be amplified.

 

[j_garcia]

Whoops, got that backwards too - took his words (since that is what he said) and I mixed it up. Pre-out, main in is the way it should be. The 9300 (and all 9x00 series Marantz receivers) have the pre-out main in setup. So does my PM7200 integrated. I believe the Denon 580x also have this capability, as well as probably the top teir of many of the big names.