Lexikon Verstärker specifications

Category : Lexicon

An amplifier is an electronic circuit that amplifies a signal with the help of additionally supplied energy. The amplification manifests itself in higher voltage and / or in higher current. In the context of Hifi, one speaks of an amplifier as a device, especially if speakers can be connected to the output.

A distinction is made between the following devices:

An amplifier without (or with very few) control elements(s), e.g. without volume control and source switch, which has the task of amplifying a signal with line level in such a way that one can operate loudspeakers.

If only one signal is amplified, it is also called a monoblock. Monoblocks are often placed near the connected speaker. Active speakers have installed the power amplifier, sometimes even separately for each chassis (so-called bi- or triamping).

A device that amplifies weak signals at line level. This is necessary, for example, for microphones or record pickups. Also considered as preamplifiers are devices with a volume control and source switch, which serve as the control center of a system, but do not have a speaker connection and no power amplifiers. Preamplifiers can also contain so-called tone control stages in order to attenuate or increase defined frequency ranges. Some devices also have a "Direct" button, which allows the signal to bypass the tone control level. Furthermore, a so-called balance controller can be provided, with which the user can adjust the distribution of the signal to the left and right channels.

A special form of preamplifier is the passive preamplifier, which (paradoxically) does not amplify, but can only attenuate, and consequently does not need its own power supply. Tone control levels can also be included here.

This is the most common variant of an amplifier, which is a combination of preamplifier and power amplifiers in one housing.

Power amplifier or integrated amplifier, which is specially designed for the headphone jack and actually can not supply speakers.