Pre Amp

Pre Amp
whats the difference between pre amp inputs and pre amp outputs?

Can u plug the RCA's into either or? Do they serve a different purpose?

A pre-amp input allows you to send sound INTO the unit so it can be played through the built-in amplifier. A pre-amp output allows you to get sound OUT of the unit to send to a different amplifier.

If you're connecting an amp, you need to connect to an output. If you're trying to hear an MP-3 player through the car speakers, you'd hook up to an input.

ART DJPRE II  Phono Preamplifier Dual RCA Type Inputs and Outputs Switchable Low Cut Filter ART DJPRE II Phono Preamplifier Dual RCA Type Inputs and Outputs Switchable Low Cut Filter
List Price: $60.00
Sale Price: $48.00
Used From: $35.00

The DJ PRE II is a high quality Phono preamp designed for your home and studio. It acts as an interface between your turntable and your audio recording system. The analog input capacitance can be switched between 100pf and 200pf to optimize your phono cartridge response...

Alesis Mic Tube Solo Mono Tube Microphone Preamplifier Alesis Mic Tube Solo Mono Tube Microphone Preamplifier
List Price: $99.00
Sale Price: Too low to display

Mono Tube Microphone Preamplifier

Technical Pro PRE5050 Professional 2-Channel Pre-Amplifier Rack Mount, Black Technical Pro PRE5050 Professional 2-Channel Pre-Amplifier Rack Mount, Black
List Price: $229.00
Sale Price: $114.99

If you are in the market for long lasting multiple use pre-amp that can be easily added to your audio system, to your mobile set up, recording studio or club venue the PreB5050 from Technical Pro is the go-to choice for a professional 2 channel pre-amplifier...

DMP-2 Dual Microphone Pre-amp DMP-2 Dual Microphone Pre-amp
List Price: $89.99
Sale Price: $53.75
Used From: $47.54

Excellent stereo imaging, ultra low noise, distortion-free soundRugged lightweight all-metal enclosure Powered by 9V alkaline or NiMH batteryPower On and dual peak LED indicatorsIncludes XLR I/O jacks, phantom power 3-way switch, selectable integrated limiter and dual gain controls.

Behringer PP400 Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp Behringer PP400 Ultra-Compact Phono Preamp
List Price: $43.99
Sale Price: $21.99

In the age of the MP3, it can be easy to forget that a turntable signal needs a little help before it reaches a mixer or home stereo if it's going to be heard. Thanks to the PP400 phono preamp, your turntable will get the boost it needs to bring your vinyl to life...

Pyle P3001AT 3000W Hybrid Pre Amplifier with AM/FM Tuner Pyle P3001AT 3000W Hybrid Pre Amplifier with AM/FM Tuner
List Price: $384.99
Sale Price: Too low to display

Pyle-pro p3001at hybrid amplifier & am/fm tuner (3000w)inputs: 2 rca ; outputs: banana binding post to speakers; 1 dedicate rca record line & 1 rca preamp output; 2 mono dedicated rca subwoofer outputs; digital fluorescent output display meter; ipod/mp3 input with cable; am/fm quartz synthesized tuner; auto station seek & separate gain control for preamp & subwoofer; 110v220v switchable; dim: 3...

Audiobahn In-Dash Equalizer/Pre-Amp with 4-Band Parametric EQ (AEQ6J) Audiobahn In-Dash Equalizer/Pre-Amp with 4-Band Parametric EQ (AEQ6J)
List Price: $139.99
Sale Price: $59.95

5-Channel In-Dash Equalizer / Pre-Amp (45Hz, 100Hz, 700Hz, 2kHz and 15kHz) . Subwoofer frequencies adjustable 35Hz / 250Hz . Active gain pre-amplifiers with adjustable input sensitivity . Universal half-din chassis for ease of installation ...

Pyle PP-999 Phono Pre-Amp Pyle PP-999 Phono Pre-Amp
List Price: $31.49
Sale Price: $18.75

- Connects to Turntable Output to bring Phono Level Up to Line Level - 12V DC 110V Adaptor Included - Load Impedance: 10K Ohms - Reference Voltage: 1V - Input Sensitivity / Impedance/PHONO 3 mV / 50K Ohms - T...

Piezo Pickup / Pre-Amp Unit for Acoustic Guitars EQ-7545R Piezo Pickup / Pre-Amp Unit for Acoustic Guitars EQ-7545R
Sale Price: $17.99

These great little powered pre-amp units include all of the parts you need to add a pickup to your acoustic or cigar box guitar. The rod piezo offers great tone and pickup range, and is made to be mounted beneath the saddle of a standard acoustic guitar, but it can be easily built into a cigar box guitar bridge as well, or mounted inside the instrument...

DBX 286s Mic Pre Amp/ Channel Strip Processor Mic PreAmp DBX 286s Mic Pre Amp/ Channel Strip Processor Mic PreAmp
List Price: $279.95
Sale Price: $199.00
Used From: $176.99

The 286s Mic Preamp has all the features you need, including wide-ranging input gain control, switchable +48V phantom power, and an 80 Hz high-pass filter to remove low frequency hum, rumble or wind.


FISHMAN AURA SPECTRUM DI GUITAR PREAMP
FISHMAN AURA SPECTRUM DI GUITAR PREAMP
Paypal   US $329.95
tweak head technology tone freq guitar pre amp buffer string resonanace adjuster
tweak head technology tone freq guitar pre amp buffer string resonanace adjuster
Paypal   US $25.00
Xotic BB preamp overdrive guitar pedal orange glitter limited run
Xotic BB preamp overdrive guitar pedal orange glitter limited run
Paypal   US $102.50
Tech 21 Sansamp PSA1 Preamp Guitar Bass Overdrive Rack Processor
Tech 21 Sansamp PSA1 Preamp Guitar Bass Overdrive Rack Processor
Paypal   US $435.00
TRAMP HOMEBREW ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE TREM PRE AMP PEDAL EXCELLENT CONDITION
TRAMP HOMEBREW ELECTRONICS BOUTIQUE TREM PRE AMP PEDAL EXCELLENT CONDITION
Paypal   US $75.00
XOTIC BB PLUS Preamp Overdrive Guitar Pedal
XOTIC BB PLUS Preamp Overdrive Guitar Pedal
Paypal   US $165.00
Mesa Boogie V Twin Preamp Pedal
Mesa Boogie V Twin Preamp Pedal
Paypal   US $225.50
Telecaster Active 25db Boost Mid and Treble Preamp GFS
Telecaster Active 25db Boost Mid and Treble Preamp GFS
Paypal   US $49.98
NOBELS PRE 1 PREAMP BOOSTER
NOBELS PRE 1 PREAMP BOOSTER
Paypal   US $10.50
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How Do Guitar Amplifiers Work?

Guitar amplifiers amplify the sound fed into it from the guitar and drive the guitar loudspeaker. The sound waves generated by the guitar strings are converted into minute electrical signal with the help of the guitar pick up and then fed into the guitar amplifier (or simply guitar amp). Depending on whether or not the input of the guitar amp can work with the minute signal coming from the guitar, the guitarist may need to feed the guitar signal first into a pre-amplifier and then take the output from the pre-amplifier to feed the guitar amp.

The working of a guitar amp typically has four stages – input, signal modulation, signal amplification and then finally the output stage.

Input Stage

The input stage of the guitar amp accepts the input signal either from the guitar pre-amp or directly from the guitar itself. Normally, there are input female jacks installed onto the amplifier where you attach the input signal cable. If the guitar signal is too weak to be fed into the guitar amp, the signal should first pass through a guitar pre-amp. It is very important that there is proper impedance matching between the available input signal impedance and specified guitar amplifier’s input signal impedance. More often than not, signal impedance mismatch is the cause of deterioration of the final guitar sound on the loudspeaker.

Nowadays, there are many guitar amps, which have a pre-amplification stage incorporated into them. For such amps, you do not need to pass the guitar signal into a separate pre-amp. You can directly feed the signal into the amp itself.

Signal Modulation Stage

Plain in and plain out is not exactly the way normal electric guitarist likes it. He wants the guitar sound to be jazzed up, twangy, funky, heavily distorted etc. etc. For such sounds, the input signal has to under go modulation before they can be amplified. Say suppose the guitarist wants a heavy distortion akin to heavy metal rock sound. To get this type of sound, the input signal is fed into the signal modulation stage where the signal undergoes the required (but controlled) distortion. The same applies to other sound effects like wah-wah sound, reverb etc. Many guitar amps have equalizers and other tone control knobs, which also come under the signal modulation stage.

Signal Amplification Stage

The signal amplification stage is the ‘business’ stage of any guitar amp. It is here where the guitar sound is actually amplified. Good guitar amps will faithfully magnify the signal coming from the Signal Modulation Stage, i.e. the incoming signal will be the exact replica of this stage’s outgoing signal, only that it will be of much greater amplitude. It is the ‘business’ of any amplifier (be it voice or guitar amp) to faithfully amplify the incoming signal.

Output Stage

This is the final stage of all guitar amps. Some guitar amps have the output driver stage as a part of the output stage, while some of them do not. In some cheap guitar amps, the outgoing signal from the signal amplification stage is directly fed into the loudspeaker. However, good guitar amps have proper signal conditioning output stage where it is ensured that output signal is properly matched to the input specifications of the loudspeaker.

Every good guitarist should have good knowledge about guitar amps. Getting a good guitar amp is very important if you wish to have a reliable and predictable output musical sound whilst playing your guitar.

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