Newbie Audio/Video/HT question!

[WyWyWyWy]

Don't laugh please but...
What is the difference between a receiver and an amp?
Because amp also receives stuff and receiver also amps stuff :T

What is the practical difference?

Also... any good UK online A/V stores?

[Dogbert]

Amplifier - A component with amplification circuits, normally has just an on/off switch.
In: single source
Out: speakers

Pre-Amp - A different component (when comming in the same box with the Amplifier its called "Integrated Amplifier"). The Pre-Amp is the "source control" - it let's you choose the source from which you want to hear the music and volume control. Normaly the pre-amp also includes sound manipulation circuitry such as balance, bass, treble, loudness switch etc.
In: all kinds of sources
Out: all kinds of outputs + volume controlled output(s) for the amp(s), headphone etc.

Tuner - Another name for a radio
In: Radiowaves
Out: Stereo output to the Pre-Amp

If you combine all three components into 1 box, you get a Receiver.

[WyWyWyWy]

Thanks a lot. This clears thing up a bit.

So when someone says "amp", it usually means "integrated amp", yea?
I mean if I'm to buy a new amp, I don't have to specifically look for the term "integrated amp", do I?

[Dogbert]

Right, unless you go high end where you might be presented with a monoblock amp - 1 input (mono) 1 output (1 speaker).
Some guys (with too much money on their hands) have stereo systems with 2 biamped speakers making a total of 4 monobloc amps. I'll leave you the calculations for a home-theater system...

[Dogbert]

Here's some crazy guy's work



Description:
My room has just been finished. dimensions are; 20X13X9. double wall installation, no windows, no noise, total quiet, the way music is supposed to be. RPG diffusers, omni "four", front and side walls. RPG diffusers and obsorbers, studio in a box is what it's called, "silver series" equipment/IRS infinity Epsilon's speakers. Krell amp/ preamp 500i, Krell 250 cd player. two Nad 208's, one for infinity servo bass and other for four HSU's subwoofers. all Audioquest cables throughout. power wedge power conditioner, salamander audio rack/with bright star audio isolator platform to keep stabalized. all equipment sounded good before, but now with the new room and acoustic material, it is now brought up to new heights. JT

[Taz]

Or the good old Naim six pack which had six mono-block power amps

[WyWyWyWy]

Thanks a lot

Now on my adventure for a cheap integrated amp... ebay go ebay go go!
No wait, I need some good speakers first :T

[Dogbert]

What's your (total setup) budget ?

[WyWyWyWy]

Heh no limit!!



Because I have no money
See how much they are, see how much I can borrow, then see what 2nd hand equipment I can find... since everything will be sold a year later when I go back to my home country, it is unlikely I'll spend my whole loan on this, but I do need some entry-level stuff to keep myself satisfied

[Dogbert]

What will it be for ? Large room ? Small room ? Personal listening ?

[WyWyWyWy]

Small room, for the MD deck and connect to my PC for watching dvds.

Just lost some bidding war on ebay 10mins ago for a pioneer 5.1 speakers package :_( Nevermind, I'm searching for some floorstanding as my front speakers now...

By the way, kudos to SteveC for the MD deck modding!!

[Dogbert]

Why don't you get a decent pair of Sennheiser HD580 which you could take back home with you ?

[Dogbert]

Holy Shit !!!

[RichL]

Theres a number of online Hi-Fi/AV stores in the UK, most of which I researched after Richer Sounds managed to sell the AV Amp they'd reserved for me within 12 hours of it arriving, but sadly, Richer Sounds is still the cheapest by some margin.

https://www.richersounds.co.uk

Good luck.

The Sherwood receivers are supposed to be pretty good for Surround systems only, and the Eltax speakers are rated quite highly for budget jobbies. If you have the money, the Missions will almost definately be a better speaker for music.

[Gurm]

Well, the basic questions seem to have been answered.

But you'd be amazed at how incompetent electronics store personnel are.

My H/K tuner (or receiver, or amp, or whatever you wanna call it) died a couple months back, and I called Circuit City's tech department... the people that supposedly KNOW stereos.

"Hi, I have a dead tuner."

"What's a tuner?"

"You know, the receiver... amp..."

"Umm..."

"THE THING ALL MY COMPONENTS PLUG INTO THAT MAKES NOISE!"

"Oh yes, your stereo. Ok, what happened?"

AAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH!

- Gurm