HT Questions - Amplifier, Receiver, 3 or 4 way speakers

ahuang · Oct 03, 2007 4:46 pm

Got a few questions to keep everyone busy :lol:

:

1. I am reading information from "http://www.marantz.com.au", and saw this thing called "Stereo Amplifiers". Just like to know, if we already have "Receivers", why do we still need "Stereo Amplifiers", aren't they for the same purpose?

2. For "Jambo" brand, it talks about "DVD Receivers" and "AV Receivers", what's the difference?

3. When I look at the in-ceiling speakers, it mentioned about "2-way", "3-way" and "4-way" ones, what's the difference, and is it the more way the better?

Thanks!

PhoenixStar · Oct 03, 2007 4:49 pm

Totally sidetracking the subject, sorry, but i say the more ways the better.
But that's just me..... :lol:

Sorry had to have a laugh!!!

matt walker · Oct 03, 2007 7:09 pm

ahuang

Got a few questions to keep everyone busy :lol:

:

1. I am reading information from "http://www.marantz.com.au", and saw this thing called "Stereo Amplifiers". Just like to know, if we already have "Receivers", why do we still need "Stereo Amplifiers", aren't they for the same purpose?

2. For "Jambo" brand, it talks about "DVD Receivers" and "AV Receivers", what's the difference?

3. When I look at the in-ceiling speakers, it mentioned about "2-way", "3-way" and "4-way" ones, what's the difference, and is it the more way the better?

Thanks!

1. Purists believe that each device has to be separate ie. radio receiver in one component and amplifier in another.

It is a specialist market nowadays.

2. Jamo (pronounced Yaymo) DVD Digital Media Receiver is an "all in one" integrated device that houses and Amp, DVD, Radio all in one compact unit.

3. Speakers are generally made up of 2 or more components. The most common mix is a woofer (large speaker) and a tweeter (really small speaker) but can sometimes include a mid range speaker too.

A 3 way will be a combo of the woofer, tweeter and midrange and a 4 way will generally have 2 woofers or 2 tweeters with 1 each of the others.

Yak_Chat · Oct 03, 2007 7:57 pm

Quote:

1. Purists believe that each device has to be separate ie. radio receiver in one component and amplifier in another.

It is a specialist market nowadays.

Yep - I rememeber in the 80's listening to a mates Linn Sondek turntable with into a NAD pre amp for the stylus - into a NAD primary amp and to keep the neighbours happy

using electrostatic headphones after 10pm

(couldn't make them into loudspeakers back then.

Then came the quadraphonic systems - really cool if you were in the right part of the room - but move around and you totally lost it - maybe it's the lack of limited it takeup

and hey

The beatles even argued if they would record in stereo :shock:

.

AH - just listen to it - if you like it - buy it - don't get too hung up in the which is better in the technical stuff - if you like the sound it gives - enjoy it.
Steve

Rodda · Oct 04, 2007 2:47 pm

OK.

An amplifier is what generates the power that drives your speakers.

When looked at separately you have (a little more specifically) a pre-amplifier that takes the signal from your source (CD player, DVD player, whatever) via the pre-amp's input, processes it in any way (in days past you could simply do things like alter the amount of treble or bass) and passes it on to the power-amplifier. This is where the signal is then amplified and sent to the speakers (via the speaker terminals and speaker wires).

More hard-core audiophiles prefer to have these 2 stages in separate components (physical devices/boxes) - hence the term "separates". They connect their CD player to the pre-amp, then connect the pre-amp to the power-amp, then connect the power-amp to the speakers. They believe separating these functions into specialised components improves the quality of the result.

Put these two together in one component/box and it's called an integrated amplifier. This is how more of the average consumer buys an amp for their speakers.

Include a radio tuner (AM/FM - usually both) and we then have what's now referred to as a Receiver (it receives radio signal).

So, you can have a Stereo Receiver which, being stereo, only has 2 channels (speaker channels) - Left and Right (front)...

... or what we today call (pretty much as a standard) an A/V Receiver. This is a Home Theatre all-in-one amp (A/V because these days they process audio as well as some video). It's a Receiver which means it has a radio tuner in it. It is an integrated amp which means it has the pre and power-amps included. It's also a surround sound processor (part of the pre-amp section), so it decodes all (hopefully) of today's know surround sound formats, from Dolby Pro-Logic to DTS ES (no A/V Receivers decode the new HD formats yet).

If you're thinking of getting an amp for your theatre, unless you want to go to the upper levels of quality (and price!) and go for separates, you will be wanting an A/V Receiver as it does everything in one box.

You still, of course, need your source(s) like your DVD player etc., and, of course, your speakers (including your subwoofer**).

Rodda · Oct 04, 2007 2:53 pm

** These days the vast majority of consumer subwoofers are 'active' subwoofers which means they come with their own amplifier built in.

When you connect your sub with a 'subwoofer cable' (coax. cable with RCA plugs) to the 'subwoofer out' (or 'subwoofer pre-out') on the A/V Receiver you are in fact bypassing the A/V Receiver's power-amp stage and taking the sub's signal directly out from the pre-amp (hence 'pre-out').