Editing Introduction to a Self Managed Life: a 13 hour & 28 minute presentation by FUTO software (section)

=== The Basic Building Blocks ===

You need three main things to get from digital music to sound: 1. Something to turn digital into analog (DAC) 2. Something to control volume and inputs (preamp) 3. Something to make it loud enough for speakers (power amp)

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==== Digital to Analog Converter (DAC) ====

* Takes the digital signal from your computer, the 1s and 0s, and turns it into an electrical audio signal.
* This could be in your computer motherboard, a soundcard, in a box by itself, in your receiver, or your television.
* Most modern ones are fine - don’t fall for a $10000 DAC or similar bs
* Having this OUTSIDE of your computer usually means less chances for computer-y noise in your audio like hiss/high frequency noises when doing something with your computer.

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==== Preamp ====

* This controls which input you’re listening to, so you can switch between a bluray player, cable box, playstation, etc.
* This is what has a volume knob, so it’s pretty much a fancy switch &amp; volume control, sometimes has bass/treble controls on it.
* This isn’t what makes things ''louder'' - that’s for the power amplifier.
* This can be better than taking the output from a digital to analog converter and simply lowering the audio volume in VLC.

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==== Preamp? Why the hell would I pay for a fancy volume knob when my mouse wheel and VLC let me do that for free? ====

When you lower the audio signal volume in VLC, you’re not attenuating an analog signal. Attenuating an analog signal takes the same audio you had and just shrinks the waveform.

When you lower the volume using VLC and then amplifying that, you’re lowering the volume digitally. 16 bit audio has 96 dB of dynamic range, 24 bit audio has 144. If you lower the volume digitally too much, it will start to sound like you are actually losing bits of audio. Even digital preamps usually use a ''digital signal'' to control '''analog amplification &amp; attenuation.'''

A great example of this would be to hook a digital to analog converter with no volume control/attenuation knob up to your computer, and plug it '''straight''' into a power amp. This would be full volume all the time. Then, lower the volume in VLC. This will sound different than lowering the volume on an analog preamp, because you’re not lowering the signal, you’re throwing away digital data.

'''If you think paying extra for a preamp is stupid, just buy a stereo receiver. You get a good enough preamp along with a good enough DAC &amp; amp and it costs around the same or less than just a preamp from “audiophile” brands.'''

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==== Power Amp ====

* Turns a tiny audio signal into a big audio signal.
* As long as it’s competently designed and can power a 4 ohm load without turning off, you’re fine.

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