Power amplifier help

Maybe this is a dumb question but it can fill a knowledge gap for me. There are pre and power amp seperates and integrated. I have receivers where the pre section can be seperated.

Could 1 power amp serve several pre's?

Is the sound quality more pre than power?

Or do we have to contend with matching and esoteric judgements such that 1 power amp will help a pre or conversely screw up the character and quality of the pre?

Does it have to be quad matched pairs or can anyone suggest a general workhorse? What would happen if a valve pre and SS power was mixed?

Could 1 power amp serve several pre's?

Only if it has multiple inputs but I don't know of any that do. Even then you could only use the signal from one pre at a time.


Is the sound quality more pre than power

Highly debatable subject. I would say on balance the pre has more influence but some will say the opposite. Good matching is important.

Or do we have to contend with matching and esoteric judgements such that 1 power amp will help a pre or conversely screw up the character and quality of the pre?

Yes IMO we have to contend with matching and esoteric judgements ;)

Does it have to be quad matched pairs or can anyone suggest a general workhorse? What would happen if a valve pre and SS power was mixed?

Not sure what you mean by 'quad matching pairs'. You can combine a valve pre with a ss power, or the other way around, and it is not uncommon, but again getting a good match will be make or break.

Try and keep is as somple as possible is my advice. that way you will benefit in long run. as martin says good matching is important. as for mixing types or makes, yes it depends on the sound you are looking for. you are unfortunately unlikely to hit the right combo first time unless you copy someone elses but thats the fun of it.
by quad do you mean the make Quad. if so then , no you can use one of their amps with another very successfully.

"Or do we have to contend with matching and esoteric judgements such that 1 power amp will help a pre or conversely screw up the character and quality of the pre?"

improving the power amp or the pre can help improve the sound . that's where the fun is , I have upgraded my poweramp a great deal and can use modest pre amps with it to great effect


"Does it have to be quad matched pairs or can anyone suggest a general workhorse? What would happen if a valve pre and SS power was mixed?"

lots of people use valve pre amps and ss power amps to good effect as I have done in the past