question on preamps and amps

[moves]

So I have a couple of questions that I am sure will be very easy for you to answer:

1) (Please correct me if I am wrong)

- AMP: Is used to amplify sound ONLY. This is used in conjunction with a preamp. It will make your **** louder.


- PRE AMP: Is used to manipulate sound and decode it to a certain format. I.e. DTS, Dolby Digital, Pro Logic... Can I use a preamp without an AMP????


- Receiver: A cheaper version of the combined two above with more bells and whistles and lesser attention and quality to performance and parts.

How is that? I am new can you tell :)


2) A little harder question:

I really like the PSB speakers and I know that they are closely linked with NAD...

There is this receiver at the top of the line which goes for about $4000 or something around there:

http://nadelectronics.com/products/av-receivers
T785 A/V Surround Sound Receiver

and then there is the Preamp: M15 Surround Sound Preamplifier

and the M25 7-Channel Amplifier which go for about $4000 each.


My question is how are the NAD preamp combined with the NAD AMP that much better than their top of the line $4000 all in one AV receiver?

[RoadRunner6]

Amp + Pre-Amp = Integrated Amp. Amp + Pre-Amp + Tuner = Receiver. (add a surround sound processor and you've got an AVR receiver). Amp is also called a power amp. Pre-Amp with the surround processor is usually called a Pre-Pro.

Separates are almost always better than a receiver (given all other things equal such as from the same manufacturer)..

A new trick is to buy from a company that sells direct over the internet to the end user. Bypasses the distributor and dealer with all the extra profit markups. Emotiva is such a company. I own their amazing 5 channel XPA-5 amp (74 lbs).

Here is a 5 channel and a 2 channel amp plus a state of the art pre/pro.

http://emotiva.com/xpa5.shtm

http://emotiva.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=31

http://emotiva.com/umc1.shtm

All for $2297.

Or you can go with the UPA-2 2 channel amp (and the XPA-5 and UMC-1) for $1797.

http://emotiva.com/upa2.shtm

Or you can go with the 7 channel UPA-7 with the UMC-1 for $1298.

http://emotiva.com/upa7.shtm

There are some extra discounts now available. Note that the specified power ratings are with all channels driven! Don't be fooled by the low prices, these are very high quality built and performing products.

RR6

[blackraven]

Ditto! If you are looking at spending $4K on an AVR receiver then I would look at separate amp and Pre-Pro. Emotiva is a great deal. The problem with separates is that the processors usually lag behind in all the latest hometheater processing technology compared to many AVR's. So do your home work when looking at preamp-processors. Many of the companies that sell separates have caught up. Other companies to consider are B&K, Parasound and www.outlawaudio.com to name a few.

[blackraven]

Also, what model PSB's are you looking at. It makes no sense to spend $4K on an amp if your spending only $1K on speakers.

[moves]

Amp + Pre-Amp = Integrated Amp. Amp + Pre-Amp + Tuner = Receiver. (add a surround sound processor and you've got an AVR receiver). Amp is also called a power amp. Pre-Amp with the surround processor is usually called a Pre-Pro.



Here is a 5 channel and a 2 channel amp plus a state of the art pre/pro.

http://emotiva.com/xpa5.shtm

http://emotiva.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=31

http://emotiva.com/umc1.shtm

All for $2297.

[/SIZE]

R6


******* Sorry what do you mean by 'integrated'?

****** I'm still not clear on what the pre amp does. Also, the NAD pre amp http://nadelectronics.com/products/home-theatre-amplifiers/M15-Surround-Sound-Preamplifier/specs does not have a surround processor? I read up on it but I don't see it listed.


******* I don't understand why I would need a 2 channel AND a 5 channel AMP?

[moves]

Also, what model PSB's are you looking at. It makes no sense to spend $4K on an amp if your spending only $1K on speakers.


I'm looking at something like this: http://www.psbspeakers.com/Platinum-home-theater-systems

[blackraven]

Moves, the preamp takes the signal from your Cd player, turntable, radio tuner (which are low level signals which needs to be amplified) and processes the signal and sends it to the power amp to be amplified and sent to the speakers. The preamp has the volume control, tone controls, and selector switches to select the various inputs like radio, CD player and turntable. Preamp-processors contain the software for processing the signals for home theater and multichannel use.

Amplifiers come in different number of channels the most common is 2 channels. There are even mono block amps which are single channel where you use one power amp for each channel. For home theater use, power amps come in multi channels the most common being 5 and 7 channel for 2 main speakers, one center channel and 2 or four rear channel to give surround sound. The subwoofer would be considered a .1 channel which comes from the preamp and goes into the built in power amp of a sub woofer.

Note that if you are using a 5 or 7 channel power amp, you will need a processor-preamp that has the 5 or 7 channel out puts to those multichannel amps.

[blackraven]

Here are some audio glossaries http://eli47.tripod.com/audiogloss.html

http://diyaudiocorner.tripod.com/def.htm

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=yYW&defl=en&q=define:Preamp&ei=mNTjSeLBBpXynQeAhLymCQ&sa=X&oi=glossary_definition&ct=title

[moves]

Great thanks for the links... I didn't know that the sub had it's own amp that's good to know.

I don't know much about this and reading all the configs on the models is like gibberish. All I know is that I love this stuff and want a nice sounding high end set one day in my life.

[moves]

Would you say that it's more beneficial to have the processor built into the preamp?

Or would it be more compartmentaly beneficial to have it as a separate component from the preamp?

[blackraven]

The processors are built into the preamps.

[blackraven]

Moves, you can get a home theater speaker system cheaper and better than the Platinum series PSB's for alot less than that $8K+. Whats your budget and do you intend it to be mostly 2ch music or mainly for home theater use?

[moves]

What kind of speakers can you suggest for 5K to 8K? Preferably cheaper the better of course.

This system is mainly for home theater use.

[blackraven]

I would look at the Paradigm Studio and Signature series, B&W 7 And 8 series, PSB Imagine and Synchrony series, Martin Logans to name a few. Dynaudio too. Dont foget you will need a good bluray player and cd player. And a good sub will set you back $800-1500.

[moves]

Cool thanks I'll look into some of those. I currently have the subsonic 5i sub from PSB. It's a great sub woofer but once upgrading comes that will be upgraded also.

I guess the PSB platinum is a better speaker compared to the synchrony and the Imagine... but the price difference is also lower on the latter two. Then the question is "Is it really worth the extra money to get the platinum series?" I would have to demo them to see. But really good point thanks :)

I always loved the look of B&Ws I'll also look into those.. For some reason I'm not 100% sold on the look of "Paradigm" but we'll see.

I never heard of the last two that you named but I will also look into them...

Can I ask how you got all your knowledge from? Just an audiophile? Work?

[blackraven]

Actually, there are a lot of people here that are way more knowledgeable then me. I've been dabbling in audio for over 20yrs and have read a lot magazines and auditioned a lot of audio equipment over the years. Forums like this one are also a boon for knowledge. I can only recommend equipment I have listened too and what other people (from forums, friends and professional reviews) have recommended.

The PSB Synchrony's are awesome speakers and the Paradigm Studio's and Signature series are equally as good but sound totally different. The PSB's have a warmer sound with excellent bass, the Paradigms are neutral to slightly bright.