Right now, I've got a 2.1 stereo speaker set plugged in to my PC by stereo analog. It's a pretty good "bookshelf" system, not one of those tweety little "computer speaker" sets with no middle range that try to compensate for that with an overeager bass, but it still connects the same way as them, with the computer's stereo jack identical to headphone jacks. The PC plays all of my music and movies through these speakers. I want to quit the HTPC thing and migrate over to using separate dedicated components, although I'll still want to plug the computer in once the new audio system is set up.
I know that in order to get surround sound, or to plug in more input sources, I'll need a receiver. What I don't get is why I have sometimes seen people talking about amps, processors, and "pre-" amps & processors, as separate things to get in addition to the receiver. What processing or amplification do they need or want to do that isn't done by the receiver? And why is there a "pre"?
I know that in order to get surround sound, or to plug in more input sources, I'll need a receiver. What I don't get is why I have sometimes seen people talking about amps, processors, and "pre-" amps & processors, as separate things to get in addition to the receiver. What processing or amplification do they need or want to do that isn't done by the receiver? And why is there a "pre"?
