A receiver is a tuner (to get radio), a preamp (selects what input you want to listen to and controls volume) and an amp that drives the speakers. Basically 3 boxes in one box. If the receiver has a phono section and a headphone section then make that 5 boxes in one box.
An integrated is a preamp and an amp in one box, with phono and headphone depending on the model.
Preamps simply select the input and control volume. And some preamps include phono and / or headphone as well.
Amps just take the input from a preamp and amplify, drive the speakers.
Receivers, preamps, amps, headphone amps, phono preamps all exist because "different strokes for different folks".
Most people on this forum would say that the best sound would come from 5 separate boxes (if you were interested in all 5 functions). I run an integrated amp with a separate phono amp. I'm not interested in radio or headphones. I might get better sound from a separate preamp and amp, but it would also cost a lot more, I'd need another AC outlet, more shelf space, etc. so practical considerations also exist on why people choose what they have.
There are slight variations (example an amp can take a signal directly from a CD player that has a volume control, things like that) but for the most part I think I covered it pretty well.
Oh yeah, and a CD player is also a transport and DAC, so you can consider that 2 boxes in one box also.
An integrated is a preamp and an amp in one box, with phono and headphone depending on the model.
Preamps simply select the input and control volume. And some preamps include phono and / or headphone as well.
Amps just take the input from a preamp and amplify, drive the speakers.
Receivers, preamps, amps, headphone amps, phono preamps all exist because "different strokes for different folks".
Most people on this forum would say that the best sound would come from 5 separate boxes (if you were interested in all 5 functions). I run an integrated amp with a separate phono amp. I'm not interested in radio or headphones. I might get better sound from a separate preamp and amp, but it would also cost a lot more, I'd need another AC outlet, more shelf space, etc. so practical considerations also exist on why people choose what they have.
There are slight variations (example an amp can take a signal directly from a CD player that has a volume control, things like that) but for the most part I think I covered it pretty well.
Oh yeah, and a CD player is also a transport and DAC, so you can consider that 2 boxes in one box also.