Is there a clear definition of what "Integrated" means?


Driver / input / output stages

Phono stages

Tone controls, source selections, balancers

 

Amps can have all or just some of these.

Is there one thing that must be included to be called an integrated?

 

clustrocasual

Showing 1 response by chenry

No there isn't.

It needs inputs. If there are more than one, it needs an input selector.

It needs a volume control (not necessarily a physical one, one on a wireless smartphone app is an alternative.)

It needs an amplifier with speaker terminals

All the rest: headphone amp and plug socket, DAC, digital inputs, preamplifier gain section, controls for bass, treble and balance, selectors for different speaker pairs, subwoofer outputs, phono preamp, tape input and output, streamer boards, wireless transmitters to wireslee speakers, Bluetooth are all optional.