Can someone explain to me what a power amp does? I know i've seen them in pictures of rigs and i was wondering if they are used to get more power out of your head.
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Power Amps purpose?
- Thread starter lowendlover
- Start date
you use the Power Amp to provide the Power for your PRE-amp mainly.
So take the oh i dunno
AMPEG SVP-II Pro thats the Ampeg SVT II pros preamp section of the amplifier.
Then you take a good olde QSC PLX XXXX whatever, and THAT provides the Power!
So take the oh i dunno
AMPEG SVP-II Pro thats the Ampeg SVT II pros preamp section of the amplifier.
Then you take a good olde QSC PLX XXXX whatever, and THAT provides the Power!
ok.
Power amps are big blocks of power that are used for powering speakers. They cannot process input from instruments because they are not designed for it.
A Pre amp is the exact opposite, they are built to process the signal from an instrument, and usually have some coloration/EQ to modify the signal.
A pre amp doesn't have the power to power speakers, however, so people amplify the preamp's signal through a power amp into their cabs.
A Amp head is a preamp and a poweramp in one.
Several advantages and disadvantages with each setup, it's all about what works for you.
Power amps are big blocks of power that are used for powering speakers. They cannot process input from instruments because they are not designed for it.
A Pre amp is the exact opposite, they are built to process the signal from an instrument, and usually have some coloration/EQ to modify the signal.
A pre amp doesn't have the power to power speakers, however, so people amplify the preamp's signal through a power amp into their cabs.
A Amp head is a preamp and a poweramp in one.
Several advantages and disadvantages with each setup, it's all about what works for you.
A lot of people will use modelers or preamps such as the sans amp units. These are unpowered units that require a power amp to send the signal to the speakers. Thats why some people here have them.
edit: someone always gets to it first
edit: someone always gets to it first
A power amp + a preamp = amp head (think of them as separates)
You could use a power amp in addition to another head as a slave amp, but I don't think you are asking that.
You could use a power amp in addition to another head as a slave amp, but I don't think you are asking that.
A power amp should be used with a pre-amo. The preamp section is to bring the signal up to a high enough level for the power amp section to amplify to audible volumes. Plug your Bass straight into a power amp and you'll get nothing as the instrument doesn't have enough output (I believe that on some active basses you may get a weak level).
All Bass and Guitar heads actually consist of a preamp and a power amp combined in one unit. Often they will have a separate Gain and Master Volume - Gain is the preamp volume and Master is the power amp volume. Some amps have just one volume knob. This generally means that the power amp section is effectively permanently set at full volume and when you adjust the volume, you're actually just adjusting the preamp.
Functionally it's identical to a preamp-into-power amp setup, just that it's in one convenient box. This is why when using a preamp with a bass head, many folks plug their preamp's output into the effects return, which bypasses the built-in preamp (on *MOST* heads).
All Bass and Guitar heads actually consist of a preamp and a power amp combined in one unit. Often they will have a separate Gain and Master Volume - Gain is the preamp volume and Master is the power amp volume. Some amps have just one volume knob. This generally means that the power amp section is effectively permanently set at full volume and when you adjust the volume, you're actually just adjusting the preamp.
Functionally it's identical to a preamp-into-power amp setup, just that it's in one convenient box. This is why when using a preamp with a bass head, many folks plug their preamp's output into the effects return, which bypasses the built-in preamp (on *MOST* heads).
