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 logistics

I've always viewed Integrated amps as essentially the predecessors to receivers, because we used to use external tuners.  I think the inclusion of a pre-amplification stage as a qualifier is debatable as a pre-amplifier typically came just before the power amplifier and did not necessarily include more than one input channel, but in the late 70's we started to see many more pre-amplifiers that served as our connectivity as an integrated amplifier would, sans the main amplification stage.

 

My definition of an Integrated amp is a power amplifier that allows for switchable connectivity to more than one input.