theo cupier
Prominent Member
Hello, I am an idiot. I've been reading the threads on this forum with interest but too little understanding so thought I'd put my head above the parapet and ask for some help. Hope you don't mind. Can someone give me - and like minded souls, no doubt - a quick guide to matters such as power amps, pre-amps, mono blocks and bi-amping?
I'm comfortable with the basic concept of:
1. Source (eg CD) -> Amp -> Speakers
and even:
2. Source (DVD) -> Processor -> Power amp -> speakers
and even my own setup which is:
3. Source (DVD) -> Processor (E800) 1-> Centre & rear speakers
..................................................2-> Power amp (B1) -> Front speakers
I guess that bi-amping is simply splitting the signal at a certain point to two individual amps and then re-combining it at the speakers. But I'm happy to be proven wrong.
I also guess that mono blocks split the signal left and right and amplify each channel separately. Does this mean that the ultimate for a 5.1 setup is to have a mono block per speaker? Can one (does one) mono block AND bi-amp? What does bi-amping do that mono blocking doesn't?
Is a a pre-amp the same thing as a processor?
I'm not necessarily looking to understand what things to buy to upgrade my setup, but more to understand how I think about piecing together a quality modular system when I next get uncontrollable upgraditis...
Any knowledge gratefully received
Thanks
Theo
I'm comfortable with the basic concept of:
1. Source (eg CD) -> Amp -> Speakers
and even:
2. Source (DVD) -> Processor -> Power amp -> speakers
and even my own setup which is:
3. Source (DVD) -> Processor (E800) 1-> Centre & rear speakers
..................................................2-> Power amp (B1) -> Front speakers
I guess that bi-amping is simply splitting the signal at a certain point to two individual amps and then re-combining it at the speakers. But I'm happy to be proven wrong.
I also guess that mono blocks split the signal left and right and amplify each channel separately. Does this mean that the ultimate for a 5.1 setup is to have a mono block per speaker? Can one (does one) mono block AND bi-amp? What does bi-amping do that mono blocking doesn't?
Is a a pre-amp the same thing as a processor?
I'm not necessarily looking to understand what things to buy to upgrade my setup, but more to understand how I think about piecing together a quality modular system when I next get uncontrollable upgraditis...
Any knowledge gratefully received
Thanks
Theo