Let me know if I have this right.
As far as I understand, pre-power stages (from mic/pickup to preamp; from preamp to power amp) are all about voltage. In other words the audio signal is transported in an electrical form using the voltage amplitude as an analog to the sound regardless of the current (amperes) level. In other words, since those stages are not driving any load (like a speaker) the wattage (voltage/current) is not important as long as the voltage levels are the right ones.
Example:
The pickup has a 500 mV signal that is increased to 2000 mV using a preamplifier. <-- Here the ammount of amperes (hence watts) is without importance.
On the other hand, power stages are all about, yes, power (watts) because they need that power to move the speakers to create sound.
Example:
The power amplifier takes that 2000mV output from the preamplifier and adds the necessary current (amperes) to create 50 W of power.
Is that right? Im I missing something?
Thank y'all.
As far as I understand, pre-power stages (from mic/pickup to preamp; from preamp to power amp) are all about voltage. In other words the audio signal is transported in an electrical form using the voltage amplitude as an analog to the sound regardless of the current (amperes) level. In other words, since those stages are not driving any load (like a speaker) the wattage (voltage/current) is not important as long as the voltage levels are the right ones.
Example:
The pickup has a 500 mV signal that is increased to 2000 mV using a preamplifier. <-- Here the ammount of amperes (hence watts) is without importance.
On the other hand, power stages are all about, yes, power (watts) because they need that power to move the speakers to create sound.
Example:
The power amplifier takes that 2000mV output from the preamplifier and adds the necessary current (amperes) to create 50 W of power.
Is that right? Im I missing something?
Thank y'all.