NEWBIE need help understanding Seperates V Receive


Hi all!

Ok this is my first post, ive had home theaters set up before but im talking Bose etc. I have been doing some reading and I am now getting more into this as a hobby rather than a sit on the sofa and listen/watch type of thing.

So my first thing is I dont understand the terminology, like when I look on this site I see "pre-amps" "poweramps" "integrated" etc, what are these things and their role?

Previously I just used a receiver but the more I read the more I am into buying seperates, so what would I need to basically have a 5.1 or 7.1 set up without having a receiver but achieving the same goal as a receiver????

From what I know and please correct me, I need an amp and also the A/V processor.....is that it??? And obviously my speakers and sub.

But ive never had separates before so I am somewhat confused on that piece.

So for speakers I am hoping to go with B&W, the CM series or the XT series, the room is smallish 13x13x9H feet.

I will use the system for 50:50 Music:Movies

What combos would you recommend to power these B&W's and what brands?

Thank you for any input and sorry to be asking these questions!
johnmadden
A pre-amp switches between source components (DVD, CD, phono, etc) and either attenuates it or boosts it a small amount and then it is passed on to the power amplifier. It is also sometimes called a control amplifier.

The power amplifier has no switching duties. It takes the signal from the pre-amp, and (drun roll please) amplifies it, or increases the voltage and current, to a level that will drive a typical speaker.

An integrated amp has input selection, volume control and final amplification all on one chassis. A receiver adds FM/AM/(maybe Sat or HD) to the integrated amp.

For multi-channel audio and video, a surround sound or AV processor is the functional equivalent of a pre-amp. It has source selection, volume control, and digital/surround sound processing built into a single chassis, but not power amplification. So yes, you are correct, for AV separates, you will need an AV processor and a multi-channel amp or amps. Assuming you use a powered sub, you would need either 5 or 7 channels of amplification for a 5.1 or 7.1 channel set-up.

Your room is pretty small so you are not going to need gobs of power, esp. if you set up your front L & R channels as "small speakers", thereby sending most of the low frequency power hungry information to a sub. There are many good AV processors out there. If you give us a budget, we can provide some specific recommendations. Most of all, have fun.
Normally in one-box receiver or one-box stereo system there's one power supply for source, preamp and amplifier section.
In separates power supplies are separate. This gives a huge advantage isolating small signal path from the large signal giving a clean signal to an input of the power amplifier. The small signal components do not need large power supplies that ponentially can be more noisy. A power transformer for the larger power is always noisier than one for the smaller. Therefore I kinda like the idea of having source and preamp together: DAC-preamp, CD-Player-preamp-DAC-headphone-amp...
Thanks guys,
I really appreciate the help, I was on another forum and they were not so nice at all actually they wouldnt answer anything and kept digging at each other so I came here. Your replies really help!

The room is small but im hoping to move to a new house in 2 years and want to take the stuff with me and not have to upgrade then or wait two years to get a nice system.

So what would you guys recommend? So should I get an integrated amp so I can select my source and then the AV processor for the dolby etc to do its thing??

Or should I get a pre-amp, an amp, and an AV processor????

I am hoping to get some B&W speakers, currently im fine with 5.1 with the hope to go to 7 in a few years when I make a dedicated home theater room. I like the look and sound of the B&W, I am putting up a budget of about $4,500 to $5000 for everything ie the 5.1 and the amp/av processor. I am mainly hoping to buy ex-demo or lightly used gear in order to make the impossible possible!

If you think that is a ridiculous budget do let me know, but I had an offer of an Arcam AVR600 with Vienna Acoustics Grands up front, the Maestro Center, and waltz's at the rear with a cambridge sub all about 2 years old for $4,500!

I never heard VA speakers so I am not familiar with them, the Arcam is still under warranty, again read the reviews and it seems good but I am thinking of getting an amp and av processor now instead of a receiver so I might shy away from that deal!

So lastly, do I just need an amp and an AV processor, or do I also need the pre-amp to select the source or does the AV processor do that?

I like Rotels, what are good combos in the Rotel line???

Also I use the system for 50% music 50% movies, would vienna acoustics suit this as I heard they are only good for music really and lack a punch compared to the XT line or CM line of B&W which I see myself getting.........

maybe im wrong??