Amps! Pre, power...what does it all mean?!

[struth]

My Dad had the Snaps and loved it.
What is the difference between a pre and power? Is one for the speakers or something? My Dad tried to explain!!

Integrated is just that..has pre and power in one box. Seperate pre and power are just seperate boxes. A lot of integrated ones are passive i think

[wee tee cee]

In simple terms an amplifier is made up of a pre amp and power amp section.

The pre amp if a seperate component acts as a switching box-it lets you connect a number of sources like a tape deck/record player/cd player/tv. It will have volume control. record players need a phono section that boosts the wee delicate signal that is generated by the cartridge on the record player.

Active pre amps need power and boost/caress the signal they receive from the source.

Passive pre amps dont need power they act as a switching box and volume control.


Power amps take whatever signal you feed them and amplify it.

The power supply can be upgraded for naim kit-thats what your looking at.

Intergrated amps are both sections of the amp in one box.

Hope that makes sense and demystifies amps a wee bit...

Enjoy the hi fi journey-it should let you enjoy your music more as you progress.

[MajikMoo]

Great - thank you.. It does help! A lot to it! That's why I initially just got the intergrated amp (nice and simple for me!! Hehe!)

[Costas]

The Flatcap is I think, the only Naim PSU that will power two other black boxes. Check their website to see if it can power your CDP as well. I have had all the dems I need to be convinced that the off board PSUs do work and are a big step up from mains power.

Dave

[Elephantears]

The Flatcap is a power supply that can power two separate items, so it is a good purchase if you can use it on both on amp and a cd player. It tends to clean up the sound a little, but it's a subtle effect. However you can't use it with your cd5i. You could have used it with the cd3.5, but the cd5i can't be upgraded.

My Naim days are a while back, but I'm pretty sure of this. I had a Flatcap 2 with my cd5 years ago and I really liked them, but it won't work with the cd5i. Wether it would be worthwhile with your Nait 3 I couldn't say.

[MajikMoo]

The Flatcap is a power supply that can power two separate items, so it is a good purchase if you can use it on both on amp and a cd player. It tends to clean up the sound a little, but it's a subtle effect. However you can't use it with your cd5i. You could have used it with the cd3.5, but the cd5i can't be upgraded.

My Naim days are a while back, but I'm pretty sure of this. I had a Flatcap 2 with my cd5 years ago and I really liked them, but it won't work with the cd5i. Wether it would be worthwhile with your Nait 3 I couldn't say.

Thanks for this info - very helpful. So there's probably not much point in me getting it really at this stage. I will save my pennies Thank you

[RothwellAudio]

A Flatcap is a box which is mostly empty.
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Na...SAC-Q_11Fk9dM: