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…
Speakers are somewhat ubiquitous nowadays. These sound-producing devices are found in our televisions and computers, at performance venues, in public spaces such as malls, places of worship and airports, and even in our pockets and palms with the popularity of the smartphone. If the mechanics behind how speakers work is a mystery, then this article…
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…
The microphone preamplifier is a critical part of any signal chain that includes a microphone. This is because microphones output relatively low mic level signals and require microphone preamplifiers to boost the signal to line level for processing and recording in analog (and digital) audio. It goes without saying that microphone amplifiers are very important…
Audio interfaces are essential components in today’s world of digital audio recording and monitoring. These devices allow our computers (which run our digital audio workstations and other audio software) to communicate with our naturally analog audio equipment (microphones, electrical instruments, speakers, headphones, etc.). With the ubiquity of digital recording in the professional audio industry and…
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…
So you’re interested in making money in the audio industry. It’s a big industry with many jobs to fill and in this article, we’ll go through 100 of these jobs to give you a good idea of how to either start making money or how to make some extra cash on the side if you’re…
Sound and audio are regularly measured in order to improve our understanding of how audio equipment performs. There are many units of measurement and prefixes that often accompany these measurements. In this article, we will go through the definitions of common units of measurement; how they work within the context of sound and audio, and…
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…
Understanding electrical ground is critical when dealing with electrical systems (including amplifiers, preamplifiers and the like). What is amplifier ground, and where should we ground an amp? Amplifier ground refers to the ground wire that safely provides the least amount of electrical resistance to earth ground or chassis ground to minimize the chance of electrocution….
If you’re familiar with microphones, you’ll know that they require preamplifiers to boost their relatively low-strength output signals to usable levels. Microphone preamps come in various shapes and sizes and are defined by a list of specifications. What are microphone preamplifier specifications? Mic preamp specifications, shown on specifications/datasheets and product pages, are pieces of information that…
Whether you’re streaming yourself playing the most popular video games, communicating with members of a broadcast team, or flying a helicopter, communication via a headset is key. There are seemingly countless headset brands in the world today, but only a few brands produce top-quality professional products worth mentioning in this article. The Top 12 Best…
