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If you’re connecting anything from an instrument or a smartphone to a set of external speakers, you may need an amplifier. While most of us think of “amps” as something to plug a guitar into, there are also many different types of amps for stereo systems, PAs, and more. Check out Adorama’s full selection here from brands like Crown Audio, Behringer, TOA Electronics and more.
When an electrical signal is sent from an instrument, phone, microphone, or phonograph (remember those?), it is weak and nowhere near powerful enough to drive 15” subwoofers. You need a device to “amplify” this signal with some serious wattage, technically called a “power amp.”
Most instrument amps also have a built-in “preamp” in addition to their power amps. Preamps add effects and tonal controls to electrical signals before they are sent to the power amp.
If you just want to play tunes from a phone or a laptop, you may not need a specific amp. Many speakers, including Bluetooth speakers, are already “powered,” meaning they’ve got small built-in audio amplifiers. However, if your speakers are unpowered (i.e., they can’t plug into a wall outlet), you’ll need a power amp. Most high-end stereo systems utilize separate power amps.
Home audio systems do not require preamps like instruments do. Still, you may want to invest in a mixer or multi-band graphic equalizer to fine-tune your levels before they hit the power amp. Be aware that if you’re playing music from a computer, it may already have an EQ feature built into its software.
We’ve got a huge variety of audio amplifiers at Adorama, from tiny headphone amps to those capable of delivering hundreds of watts. You’ll want your power amp’s wattage to match the power rating of your speakers. If it is too low, you won’t get the most out of your speakers. Even worse, if it’s too high, you could blow them out. If your power amp has selectable resistance levels in ohms (usually 4, 8, or 16), make sure they sync with your speakers as well.
Amps can be powered either by solid-state transistors or by vacuum tubes. As with guitar amps, tube-powered models for stereos are pricier and require more maintenance, but audiophiles love their warm, vintage sound.
No matter what kind of amp you decide is right for you, make sure you’ve got enough cables and adapters to set everything up.