What Is a Preamp, and Do I Actually Want One?

Each audio system requires amplification. In a conventional hi-fi set-up, the loudspeakers are at all times “passive”—which is to say, they don’t produce their very own energy. As an alternative, they have to obtain an amplified audio sign from an exterior supply, aptly known as an amplifier, to be able to do their factor. Even in a extra fashionable, self-contained audio system (just like the Sonos Period 100, for instance), the drivers that produce the sound have to be amplified to be able to perform—this simply all occurs in a singular field quite than throughout hi-fi separates.

However for those who’ve heard about amplifiers, you’ll have additionally heard about preamplifiers (sometimes called “preamps”) and questioned the place they match into an audio system, and whether or not you want one. Let’s reply these questions, we could?

What Does a Preamp Do?

An audio sign wants loads of consideration earlier than it’s able to be amplified—so in the end the query “what does a preamp do?” broadly incorporates its personal reply. A preamplifier takes care of the whole lot that must be performed earlier than the audio sign (despatched from the music supply) is amplified and despatched onwards to the system’s audio system.

In a self-contained audio system just like the Sonos speaker, the preamplifier and the amplifier are in the identical enclosure, together with the speaker drivers that really ship the sound. Even in a extra subtle hi-fi separates setup, the preamplifier a part of proceedings remains to be usually dealt with out of sight, inside the amplifier. All these amps are referred to as “built-in amplifiers” and include each preamp and amplifier performance.

Nonetheless, some folks desire to separate out this performance, which is when you might come throughout a preamplifier as its personal piece of kit, paired with an influence amplifier. In these instances, the preamplifier means that you can choose the supply of music you’d like to listen to (the bulk have a choice of enter choices to be able to help a system with a number of sources), and in addition set and modify the quantity.

The preamp additionally ensures the audio sign is at “line stage”—that’s, the usual voltage power of an audio sign transmitted between parts—and sends it on to be amplified, able to be moved onwards, lastly, to the audio system.

Does an Exterior Preamp Enhance Sound High quality?

Hello-fi orthodoxy says that particular person features in any system needs to be saved as separate as potential if the very best outcomes are to be achieved. The pondering goes that, by protecting electrical exercise as shielded and self-contained as potential, the audio sign has the very best shot at remaining as pure and uncolored as potential.

By dividing the preamplifier and the amplifier features into separate packing containers, there needs to be a discount in electrical noise and interference across the sign in comparison with having all of it crammed right into a single field.