Integrated Amplifier article
Integrated Amplifier for Beginners: A Complete Guide
New to hi-fi? Here is how a stereo amplifier works, what connects where, and how to get everything up and running without the jargon.
You’ve got speakers, or you’re getting them, and you need something to power them. The thing that does that job is called an integrated amplifier. It is not complicated once you understand what the different parts do and how they connect. This guide starts from zero.
What Goes Where
Your sources Your sources — turntable, CD player, streaming box, television — plug into the inputs on the back of the amplifier.mdash; turntable, CD player, streaming box, television Your sources — turntable, CD player, streaming box, television — plug into the inputs on the back of the amplifier.mdash; plug into the inputs on the back of the integrated amplifier. The amplifier raises and controls the signal from those sources. The powered signal then goes out through speaker terminals to your passive speakers. That’s the whole chain.
An integrated amplifier combines two stages in one box: the preamplifier, which handles input selection and volume, and the power amplifier, which drives the speakers. You do not need to understand the electronics to use an integrated amplifier well. You just need to connect the right things to the right sockets.
What the Inputs Mean
The back panel of a typical integrated amplifier has several labelled inputs. Line inputs (sometimes labelled AUX, CD, TUNER, TV) accept line-level signals — streaming boxes, CD players, televisions, cassette decks. A phono input is specifically for a turntable and handles the lower-level signal with the correct equalization. Do not connect a turntable to a line input unless it has a built-in phono stage.
Digital inputs (optical, coaxial, USB) require the amplifier to have a built-in DAC. If yours has these, you can connect a television or computer directly. If not, you need the source to output an analogue signal.
What the Outputs Mean
Speaker terminals on the back accept speaker cables. They are usually colour-coded: red for positive, black for negative. Connect them correctly for both left and right channels. A pre-out socket, if your unit has one, allows connection of an external power amplifier; you do not need to use it. A headphone socket accepts standard headphones directly.
How to Set Everything Up for the First Time
- Place the amplifier on a flat, well-ventilated surface. It produces heat during use.
- Connect your speakers: positive wire to red terminal, negative to black, one pair per channel.
- Connect your sources while the amplifier is switched off: turntable to phono (if available), other sources to line inputs.
- Switch on the amplifier. Set the volume to minimum before switching on any source.
- Select the correct input for whichever source you want to use.
- Raise the volume gradually until you reach a comfortable listening level.
That’s it. The technical side is straightforward. What takes time is learning how your speakers and amplifier sound together, and what you prefer.
A Note on Turntable Connection
The phono connection is the one that most often causes confusion. If your turntable has a red and white cable ending in phono plugs, and a separate earthing wire, it almost certainly needs a phono input. Connect the cable to the phono input and the earth wire to the ground terminal (labelled EARTH or GND) next to it. If you hear a loud hum, check the earth connection first.
If your turntable has a built-in phono preamp, it can connect to any line input. Check your turntable’s manual if you are unsure.
Volume, Tone Controls and Balance
The volume knob does what it says. Tone controls (if present) allow you to boost or cut bass and treble; leaving them at the centre detent bypasses their effect in many designs. Balance adjusts the relative level between left and right channels. Most people leave tone controls and balance at their neutral positions.
What to Read Next
Once you have the basics down, our integrated amplifier buyer’s guide covers how to choose a specific integrated amplifier for your setup. Our overview guide gives broader context. And our mistakes guide is worth reading before you buy anything.
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