Just wondering, this forum has the more threads than any other. I thought Speaker forum would top them all. Does this mean people covet Amps more than any other audio component? Just curious.
Well no wonder my system sounds as it does. I'm missing the most important component all together. (Run CD with analog volume directly into whatever set of amps I'm in the mood for. Have never preferred the sound when a preamp was added)
It depends on the forum. Evidently more people here are interested in amps and preamps. On Audiokarma people seem to be more interested in speakers.....
Tweaking an amp is much easier than towing speakers, installing room treatments, filling stands with kitty litter or installing feet on heavy speakers.
Thanks for your fine answers. I used to drool over speakers, but as I get older I am growing much fonder of amplifiers. A beautifully built and sounding amp, especially tubed ones, do it for me like no other. May be it's the glow, the warmth, the smell. It gets all fuzzy inside, like your first crush :). Just look at some of these amps. They say porn sites are the most visited sites in the world. This is pure audio porn!
After a few decades of audio some come to the conclusion that the speakers just let you know what your upstream components sound like(overstated a bit) .
It always surprises me that most people seem to agree with the notion that speakers make the biggest difference in the sound that is heard, yet at the same time many of those same people consider various upstream components to be more "important."
As to the original question, while good points are made in several of the preceding answers, I particularly agree with the response by RLWainwright.
Honestly, if I had limited funds and I was making an amp and preamp purchase I would put most of the money into the preamp and fudge a little on the amp. I think a good sounding preamp is much more likely to carry a mediocre sounding amp, then the other way around.
Very logical as to why amp's and preamp's have the most forum thread's on 'Gon. The amp and preamp or integrated are the center core and the heart of any audio system where all source component's patch into and the preamp and amp provide the current transfer function of all incoming signal's to the speaker's.
Hard to argue that the preamp is the most important component, when its functions are increasingly being assumed by front end components with volume controls, to say nothing of poweramps with volume controls.
There is a good reason why Amps/Preamps is listed first. In addition to the fine answers mentioned above, it is the most popular category. Besides once you post under amps/preamps you are not allowed to leave, they won't let you.
While the preamp is important, I find the amp-speaker duo the most important link which has to be right. If this is wrong nothing upstream can save it. Jallen
And also because they are swapped in and out of systems more frequently. Most folks will keep their speakers for 5 years or more. It is much easier to buy and install amps/preamps than it is speakers...
Does this mean people covet Amps more than any other audio component?
No, it simply means that people talk about amps/preamps more than any other topic. Hey, one forum has to have the most action, why not amps/preamps? Personally, I find the preamp is the heart of the system, and the most difficult part of the system to get right.
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