An audio amplifier produces and delivers power through speaker wires to drive audio loudspeakers in a stereo or home-theater setup. The power setting, better known as volume control, allows you to adjust the sound level coming from your speakers by increasing the power being delivered to them by the amplifier. Follow these steps to use an amplifier.
Instructions
1. Match your speakers as closely as possible to the amplifier that will be driving them. Speakers are rated for their impedance, measured in ohms, which means the speaker's ability to resist or "impede" the flow of current to it. To get the most efficient use from your amplifier investment, the speakers should closely match the amp. Most amplifiers for home use are rated for 8 to 4 ohms, so you will want speakers rated at up to 8 ohms. This is important in preventing overloading your amplifier and causing a burnout if the speakers draw more power than the amp can deliver. Conversely, you don't want to blow up weak speakers the first time you push the volume knob on the amp.
2. Use your amplifier as a hub for connecting multiple audio/video components. In order for your amplifier to power the speakers, there must be a signal flowing from the amplifier for the speakers to process and produce sound. This can come from a CD player, a DVD or Blu-ray player, a turntable, a tape deck, an MP3 player, a gaming system or even your computer. If it can produce sound and an image, it can probably be connected to an amplifier to boost the signal for playback through your speaker system.
3. Use your amplifier to process different audio signals for home-theater use. Most amplifiers are actually a cabinet containing five or more discrete amplifiers---each designed to process a different signal. Stereo recordings on an audio CD are recorded in two channels, left and right. When the CD player is connected to an amplifier, the amp processes these two distinct signals through two smaller amplifiers and sends each signal to its proper speaker, left or right channel. For home-theater applications, the amplifier processes front left and right sound sources, a center channel for dialog in movies and TV programs, left and right rear sound, and a low frequency signal that can be sent to a powered subwoofer for deep bass. Connecting multiple speakers to your surround sound amplifier will greatly expand your enjoyment of its capabilities.
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