[Janibrewski]

I know nothing about audio.


I thought I could buy a Denon 3805 and whatever speakers I can afford (I'm looking at Klipsch, Paradigm, MartinLogan, and others) and I'd be set.


How does one know if they need a pre-amp, or just amp.


Can someone explain to me what an AMP does? From reading the forums I gather it uses power so the receiver, say the Denon 3805, doesn't have too... does that mean that pre-amps or amps are mostly useful for LOUD music?


Does it add anything to movies and/or quiet to normal volume music in a 16'x20' room?


Thank you!

 

[jdcrox]

A receiver such as the Denon 3805 consists of 3 components:

1. Preamp/processor. To switch, process, etc the signal.

2. Tuner. For radio, obviously.

3. Power amp. To amplify the millivolt signal from the preamp portion to a signal the speakers can use.


You can add an outboard amp to some receivers to add more power.

 

[petergaryr]

FWIW, I happen to have a Denon/Klipsch combination and that works rather well. The Klipsch are among the most efficient speakers and can be run with relatively little clean power. The Denon has that.


As jdcrox said, however, if at some point you needed even more power, you can easily connect a separate amplifier of higher wattage in the future.

 

[dsmith901]

Here is a great resource for anyone just getting into AV:

http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_T...ater_Articles/