What does a pre amp actually do? technically?

[sassysound]

What does a pre amp actually do technically? What constitutes a 'good' headphone amp in terms of technical specification? I mean is having a flat freq response what we are going for? or coloration of the sound?

 

[CRESCENDOPOWER]

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What does a pre amp actually do technically

A pre-amplifier is a stage, or step in the audio chain between your source components, and amplifier section. A pre-amplifier amplifies the signal from your source components to better drive your amplifier. Pre-amplifiers usually have multiple inputs for connecting several source components, and sometimes even outputs for connecting a subwoofer, or even another amplifier. Pre-amplifiers also solve many volume control issues by use of volume pots, stepped attenuators, or even gain cell technology.

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What constitutes a 'good' headphone amp in terms of technical specification?

There are members on this board that can talk about total harmonic distortion, slew rates, damping factors, single to noise ratio, and even the ability of an amp to drive low impedances. The only factor that is important to me is what it sounds like in my system.

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I mean is having a flat freq response what we are going for? or coloration of the sound?

No single component has a perfectly flat frequency response, and every component is colored in some way, or another. Once again, the only factor that is important to me is what the component sounds like in my system.