Quote:
Originally Posted by bLue_oNioN
Hey JeffL, just trying to clarify for learning purposes... could you please elaborate on that statement a little bit so I can learn about why that is so? I had always thought that amps increase the gain only, but from asking others and reading, it appears that amps alter the characteristic of the sound as well. How does everything fit together?
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Yes, the amp does increase the gain. However distortion is also an inherent problem, as well as differeing resolution, different methods of amplification, etc.
The goal is (usually) distortion free amplification. Sometimes distortion is watned, as in tube amps, or guitar amps, effect inserts, etc.
The sound of the amp is dependent mostly on how the amp can handle all 10 octaves in the 20hz-20khz range, since the gain and distortion varies based on frequency.
All in all, the reasons get very technical, and I definetly couldn't give you an exact reason.
In any case, best bet, keep the signal chain as minimal as possible, and make sure to keep impedances matched, line level stage gains matched, etc.