The difference and relationship between Amplifier and Pre-Amplifier
We received a message from Tom. He connected a microphone to the HOLO-WHAS Plus, but the sound was very low, even with the volume set to the maximum in the app.
The reason is simple. A microphone sends out a very weak signal, much like a whisper. A power amplifier expects a stronger input, so when it gets that quiet signal, it has very little to work with.
This is where a preamplifier comes in. It picks up the whisper and turns it into a clear, strong voice. Once that happens, the power amplifier can take over and fill the room with sound.
Without the preamp, even the best amplifier is like trying to shout using only a whisper. That’s why the volume stayed low.
Let’s take a closer look at why this happens and how to solve it.
What is Pre-Amplifier
A preamplifier, commonly referred to as a preamp, serves as an essential electronic device that boosts weak electrical signals. It transforms these faint signals into stronger outputs that can withstand noise and are robust enough for additional processing. This enhanced signal is also suitable for transmission to a power amplifier and ultimately to a loudspeaker. Without a preamp, the final signal would likely be compromised by noise or distortion. Preamps are frequently utilized to amplify signals from analog sensors, such as microphones and pickups. To minimize noise and interference, preamplifiers are often positioned close to the sensors.
Streamer from OpenAudiois a Pre-Amplifer, all other models are Amplifier.
What is Amplifier
An amplifier, also known as an electronic amplifier or informally as an “amp,” is a device designed to boost the strength of an electrical signal. This signal, which can be a time-varying voltage or current, is amplified to a higher magnitude. Essentially, an amplifier is a two-port circuit that draws power from a power supply to increase the amplitude of the input signal, resulting in a proportionally larger output signal. The effectiveness of an amplifier is quantified by its gain, which is the ratio of the output voltage, current, or power to the input. An amplifier is specifically defined as a circuit with a power gain exceeding one.
How to connect a microphone to Line in of HOLOWHAS Ultra/Plus/Max
Some customer connect microphone directly to the Line in of HOLOWHAS Ultra, Plus, and Max, and find that the signal is too small. So, a pre-amp is needed.
So just connect your microphone to Streamer from OpenAudio, and then connect output of Streamer to Line in of HOLOWHAS Ultra, plus or Max.
You can also consider to use other brand pre-amp.
