If you’ve listened to two audiophiles discuss high-fidelity audio and the equipment they trust to create it, you might have thought you heard a different language. Fortunately, you don’t have to learn another language to create pristine audio. You just have to keep reading our breakdown of what a preamplifier does and how it affects 2-channel audio.
Learn more about preamplifiers here, or dive into 2-channel audio to build your hi-fi audio foundation.
What Does a Preamplifier Do?
A preamp’s main job is to boost weak signals so that other devices like amplifiers can recognize them.
For example, the signal from a microphone is too weak for an amplifier to register. In this case a preamp would be connected between the microphone and amplifier so that the mic’s signal travels through the preamp and is then relayed to the amplifier.
Or, an audiophile may have an audio source, preamp, and amplifier as the foundation of their audio system such as the Esoteric Grandioso C1X for listening in their 2 channel dedicated system.
Perhaps they also enjoy movies and in that case they would probably choose the new Marantz 10 series as their preamplifier. While the 10 series has a separate amplifier and preamp, some devices integrate the two into one so that signal is boosted and amplified from one device.
Passive vs. Active Preamps
Still with us? Good!
There are both passive and active preamps, the most immediate difference being that active preamps require a power source.
Active preamps use power to amplify signal while passive preamps require no power because they mostly control signal volume.
What effect do passive and active preamps have on audio quality?
• Active preamps can alter audio, adding gain and warmth through active amplification.
• Passive preamps preserve the original sound quality through passive volume control.
If your first priority is hearing the original sound, then a passive preamp would be the right choice for your system. If you want to tweak the original sound, then an active preamp is right for you.
Preamps and 2-Channel Audio
So do you need a pre-amp for your 2-channel audio setup?
We can’t give a yes or no answer because it depends on your equipment, space, and taste. However, if you contact Front Row Theater and share what you’re looking for then we can give you a recommendation that reflects our 29 years of experience installing and supporting home audio needs.
Contact Front Row Theater now for the best 2-channel audio insight and recommendations in South Florida.