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  1. #1
    guitar mongoose icarus's Avatar
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    pre amp, amp theory

    I use an amp, pre amp set up, but to be honest i don't know the science behind them. so if someone could explain this to me it would much appreciated.
    that makes as much sense as a drunken mongoose playing the piano

  2. #2
    guitar mongoose icarus's Avatar
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    I understand the basics principles like the amplifier converts the low voltage, low current signal into a higher current signal suitable for driving speakers. As for a preamp magnifies low level signals. But what is the actual advantage of them, and and how they correspond together.
    that makes as much sense as a drunken mongoose playing the piano

  3. #3
    Color me gone... Resident Loser's Avatar
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    If you...

    ...understand those basics, there really isn't a whole lot more to be said...it's all basically a step-up procedure to bring the output of one device to the minimum input requirements of the next...

    jimHJJ(...if you really want specifics, I'd suggest a visit to the library or a Google on amplifier theory...)
    Hello, I'm a misanthrope...don't ask me why, just take a good look around.

    "Men would rather believe than know" -Sociobiology: The New Synthesis by Edward O. Wilson

    "The great masses of the people...will more easily fall victims to a great lie than to a small one" -Adolph Hitler

    "We are never deceived, we deceive ourselves" -Goethe

    If you repeat a lie often enough, some will believe it to be the truth...

  4. #4
    Suspended topspeed's Avatar
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    I'm unsure I understand your question. Are you asking for the science behind each unit or what their general purpose is? An amplifier merely increases the gain from a source (cd, LP, whatever) to the speakers. A pre-amp is a switching station allowing the user to alternate between multiple sources. A passive pre will do so without adding gain, an active pre will add gain.

    The idealogy behind separates is simple: It allows you to mix and match pre's and amp's to your liking. Manytimes, a company that makes great amps may not make the best pre's, and vice versa. Separates allows the user to tailor the sound to their liking.

  5. #5
    Forum Regular hermanv's Avatar
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    The pre-amp is almost allways where the volume control resides. Besides switching this is mostly the reason they exist..

    Quick summary:
    1. Source selector
    2. Volume control
    3. Other optional controls (balance, tone, mono switch)
    4. Optional place to put the phono amplifier.

    Active pre-amps also do an impedance conversion, i.e. high impedance in, low impedance out.

    One reason passive pre-amps are popular is that if all you want is volume control no active parts are really necessary. You can make do with just a selector switch and a volume control circuit. Passive pre-amps usually have the smallest sonic signature because they do so little
    Herman;

    My stuff:
    Olive Musica/transport and server
    Mark Levinson No.360S D to A
    Passive pre (homemade; Shallco, Vishay, Cardas wire/connectors)
    Cardas Golden Presence IC
    Pass Labs X250
    Martin Logan ReQuests.

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