Amplifiers & Preamps

An amplifier provides the power to operate audio components connected in a stereo system. Each component, such as a turntable, CD player and tape deck, is connected to the amp with a set of stereo...

Altec Lansing manufactures high-end, self-powered speakers for home audio applications, primarily personal computers and laptops. The speakers contain built-in amplifiers to produce quality sound...

Those that participate in the smallest bit of playing, engineering or recording music know that there will eventually come a time when you will have to deal with connecting a stereo in/output into...

Dynaco, an American amplifier manufacturer, is best know for its Series 70 tube amplifiers, produced from 1959 until the early 1990s. Connecting speakers to Dynaco amplifiers does present a few...

Yamaha stereo receivers are similar to many home audio receivers in that they have provisions for powering more than one set of stereo speakers. This lets you connect one pair of speakers in your...

Electrical power amplification is used for many purposes. Power companies amplify their electrical signals so that electricity can be transmitted over long distances. Audio amplifiers allow...

Microphone amplifiers are used to amplify sound by converting the mechanical energy of a sound wave into an electrical signal, amplifying the electrical signal, and then converting the amplified...

A bridged amplifier uses the output from the two stereo channels to drive a single mono speaker load. It is often done to achieve a higher output from the amplifier by combining the available...

An electrolytic capacitor is a specific capacitor that is generally used as a ripple filter in electrical power supplies. It is also used to couple alternating current (AC) signals across direct...

Amplifiers for home theater and stereo systems generate heat, especially when used to power speakers at higher volumes. Keeping the amp cool will improve its performance and prolong the life of...

An amplifier is the very guts of your DJ system. It drives whatever signal you put through it, whether song, voice or effect. Connecting it to your other DJ equipment may be simple in appearance,...

For many audiophiles, pairing a tube preamplifier with a solid state amplifier is magic, giving the listener the warm midrange quality of tubes with the extended bass and control of a solid state...

The 2 channel amplifier has been the mainstay for audio reproduction for decades, yet the interest in creating a three-dimensional sound field using a 4 channel amplifier has been part of audio...

Sony's S Master digital amplifier series is designed for use with high definition television. The amp connects to the HDTV with a High Definition Media Interface (HDMI) cable. This 19-pin cable...

Using two amplifiers with one set of speakers requires the installation of a simple A/B switch available at electronics stores. The slide on the switch moves between the A and B positions to...

XLR inputs are commonly used in professional audio-recording setups for their elimination of ground noise due to interference. Although XLR inputs are commonly used alongside RCA inputs and...

Music would probably be one of the most helpful things in life. Its effect cuts across time and age. In the advent of new technology, playing music has become sophisticated as well. Parties will...

A complete audio system has the power to deliver a wide spectrum of sound. For one of the easiest and most common ways to achieve this sonic depth, add an amplifier and subwoofer to your audio...

Scratching, audio peaks, buzz, and cutting in and out are all signs that your volume control may be damaged. Volume is controlled with an electromechanical potentiometer, and from time to time...

One of the most common ways to wire a potentiometer, or rheostat, is as a volume control. By wiring one of the terminals to ground, it allows this standard variable resistor to have a position...

RCA (Radio Corporation of America) is a manufacturer of consumer electronics, including television and stereo components. The company is known for its color-coded patch cords for connecting audio...

Although installing a 4-channel amplifier may seem like a daunting task at first, it's actually a straightforward process as long as you plan out the installation. The high volume of wires and...

Integrated amplifiers combine the source switching and volume control functions of a control amp/preamp and the output of a power amplifier in one chassis. Integrated amps can be designed to very...

Wiring a home amplifier to a home stereo or surround system is a good way to maximize sound quality. There may be many wires running from the amplifier but the process is still simple. Most...

Preamps make up an integral part to many audio signal chains. The basic purpose of a preamp involves getting a low signal up to a workable level. However, preamps can offer much more in the way of...

Using an amplifier to power speakers inside a home can drastically increase the sound quality of your home stereo. You can also use an amplifier to power your surround sound system to improve your...

It used to be fashionable to display one's electronic gear for guest to see but no longer is it so. Here is how to hide your stereo and video equipment from view.

Audio signals spend most of their time as very light distortions in an electrical current, which can be passed through diaphragms to transmit the current into small pressure changes the flutter...

Stereo amps, often called AV receivers, can have multiple input and output connections and can handle six or more speakers. They're capable of stereo output but also can recreate Surround Sound...

An amplifier provides power to the rest of your stereo and allows you to play music at high quality. A factory stereo in a car comes with a small amp installed, but many audiophiles don't find it...

In this article I'm going to walk you through connecting your car audio amp to your home theater system. I had an extra one in my basement and just recently hooked it up to my DJ mixer to see if...

When shopping for an amplifier or a preamplifier for your home stereo system, you may run across the term "line level." Power amplifiers are designed to take line level signals and amplify them...

Connecting an equalizer to a TEAC integrated amplifier will let you customize your stereo sound across a range of settings. This is useful when setting up the stereo system either for the first...

Power amplifiers are a key component of an audiophile's home audio system. They run the gamut in styles and prices and can be used in a variety of applications. McIntosh amplifiers were used to...

While not as commonly used as they used to be, equalizers remain a popular option for fine-tuning home-audio systems' frequency response. Using an equalizer properly requires a lot of knowledge of...

The power amplifier is an important component of the audio signal chain in a home stereo system and can have a significant effect on the quality of sound from the system. There are many choices...

There are two types of wires that are normally connected to a home stereo amplifier: speaker wire and audio/video cables to connect other components. In a home theater or stereo amplifier system,...

Maybe you need to select between two inputs without swapping cables--or perhaps you need to select between normal and amplified speakers for your home-theater system. A toggle switch extends the...

In the audiophile world, fans of high-end audio like to bicker endlessly about what format is best (CD, SACD or vinyl), whether to invest more in speakers or the source component or what kind of...

Amplifiers are the muscle that powers your stereo system by driving the speakers. The components are connected with speaker wire that consists of two strands. Each strand connects to a separate...

Whether you are designing your own stereo system or purchasing components for a personal audio system, you should have a basic understanding of how an amplifier sorts the audio signal and delivers...

Amplifiers and speakers are the muscle and heart of your audio system. The amp provides the power to drive your speakers, which deliver the soul-stirring music that defines a quality stereo setup....

Zener diodes are primarily designed to regulate the output voltage of a power supply. As a voltage regulator, a stable maximum voltage is allowed to pass through the diode. This maximum voltage is...

Three Japanese optical companies merged in 1917 to form "Nippon Kogaku K. K.," the company we now call Nikon. The new company began to manufacture optical glass in 1918, and made glass elements...

Designing a sound studio with good sound reduction material can be rather expensive. However, you can create inexpensive, less professional studios with other material used for the sound reduction...

Tubes are still commonly used in guitar amplifiers and in power amps in high end stereo systems. Many different tubes are popular, including the much beloved EL34, KT88, 6550 and 6L6. Tubes...

A preamp, also called a control amp, is an integral part of any high end audio system. Preamps are not as common as they once were, as their functionality has been incorporated into receivers and...

The very first guitar amplifiers were built in the 1930s. Over the next 30 years the guitar amp underwent some heavy modification as musicians in the 60s began over-driving their amps in order to...