From recording, mixing and mastering to formatting and reproduction to the end listening environment and playback system, numerous devices affect the overall audio/sound quality. An amplifier is a vital component of a sound system, but will the amplifier affect the quality of the audio and the resulting sound produced by the speakers or headphones? Do…
Audio equipment can be costly, meaning that people sometimes have to settle on one or more pieces of gear. Should you buy a high-end amplifier and settle on inexpensive speakers, or purchase top-notch speakers and skimp on the amplifier? Which is more important, speakers or amplifiers? Speakers and amplifiers are equally important for music playback….
We’re currently living in the age of digital audio, and in-the-box mixing within a digital audio workstation is commonplace. With modern technology, we don’t even need to mic up guitar amps to get the best guitar sounds. Instead, it’s completely possible (and perhaps even more cost-affordable) to plug directly into an interface and utilize one…
The terms “amplifier” and “receiver” are very similar yet distinguishable when it comes to audio/sound systems. If you’re wondering which device would be best for your system or are just curious as to the differences between the two, then you’ve come to the right place! What are the differences between an amplifier and a receiver?…
The amplifier(s) within a vehicle’s sound systems are critical to its sonic performance. Specific performance criteria must be met to satisfy the requirements of all other parts of the system. With so many differences from system to system, it makes perfect sense that the market is flooded with manufacturers producing their own car amplifiers. Whether…
Amplifiers are essential in most audio signal flow paths. When looking at power amplifiers to drive our loudspeakers, we come across many design variations, including the monoblock configuration. What is a monoblock amplifier? A monoblock amplifier is a single unit (“block”) responsible for amplifying a single channel (“mono”). The components of a monoblock amplifier amplify…
When it comes to tone and loudness, a guitar amplifier is arguably even more important than the guitar! As a guitarist, an amplifier is likely one of the biggest purchases (second only to the guitar itself) you’ll have to make. The size, character and functionality of guitar amplifiers varies greatly across the huge market. With…
To really get the most out of a bass guitar, we’ll need a solid amplifier capable of reproducing the low-end frequencies with power and integrity. When it comes to the overall tone, and actually getting heard, a bass guitar amp is key! For bassists, an amplifier is likely the biggest purchase (besides the bass itself)…
In this massive directory, I list out all amplifier brands and manufacturers. To keep this article a reasonable length, I’ve only included bullet points about each brand/manufacturer. I’ve also only included companies that produce standalone amplifiers (combo-style instrument amp, powered and active speakers are not included). The amplifier types included are as follows: The majority…
Whether you’ve got an entertainment room or a full-out home theatre, a great AV receiver will be a key component to the setup. There are plenty of brands/manufacturers that produce AV receivers. Some are better than others (technologically, price-wise, service-wise, etc.). This article will focus on the best receiver brands on the market today to…
Headphones, and the amplifiers that drive them, are used by millions of people each and every day. Headphone amplifiers range from the small digital-to-analog converters in the headphone jacks of our devices to carefully designed standalone units. Great headphones will generally require great headphones amplifiers to reach their full potential. In this article, we’ll discuss…
Speakers are quite remarkable in their ability to convert electrical audio signals into sound waves for our listening pleasure (or displeasure). Speakers of all sizes, from built-in smartphones to live sound subwoofers, require amplifiers. Why do speakers need amplifiers? Typical analog audio signals are recorded, stored, and played back at line level (nominally 1 volt…
