which is better? an integrated amp or a stereo amp and can they both work for a home

[alexander]

theater system?
the onkyo reciever is actually what I am looking for, but I can't choose between the integrated amp or stereo receiver. the integrated costs alot more. I want to know if i buy it that it would be for a good reason.

 

[silverbullet]

The answer depends largely on where you are getting your AV content and your budget.

Home theater amplifiers (NOT theater-in-a-box) typically have the number and type of inputs and outputs that allow you to connect all the typical entertainment devices, ie, game console, dvd or bluray player, Netflix, cable box, over-the-air TV signal.

Upstairs I have the big screen lcd, satellite dish, bluray play, and vcr connected through an Onkyo home theater receiver. I get local channels over the air, so I have to run a digital audio cable back from the TV to the receiver.

Downstairs, I'm using an old analog TV receiving over-the-air signal from an antenna dvd player/recorder with a digital tuner. I route the audio through an old stereo receiver.

Both provide sound a couple orders of magnitude better than the TV speakers.

You need to assess what sort of inputs you need your amplifier to handle and start your decision process at that point. Only then can you start looking at actual specs.

 

[bbt91945]

You don't see that many integrated amp in the market today and stereo amp does not have an optical audio input. Keep in mind that home theater requires multi channel sound and stereo only have a left and right channel. Receiver of 5.1 or 7.1 is very common for theater use. Go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews on receivers. Hope this will help you out.

 

[PaulinSanDiego]

Generally speaking, an integrated amp will have better quality and design of audio electronics than a receiver. And, it will have more versatility (more setup and switching options). That's why they're generally more expensive. "Integrated" means that they combine a preamplifier (or control amplifier, with all you switching and equalization) along with a power amp (the part that actually drives the speakers). Originally, these were only available as separate components, particularly in higher end audio systems.

A receiver is essentially an integrated amp with a built-in AM/FM tuner, with all of the basic functionality of a separate integrated amp (but probably with lesser quality/design audio electronics and switching versatility). You also don't have to buy a separate tuner to listen to the radio.

For most non-commercial applications, a decent receiver should be fine. It also takes up a lot less room than the separate integrated amp and tuner, as well as being less expensive.

The audio electronics in various top receiver brands (Onkyo, Pioneer, Yamaha, Denon, etc.) are pretty much equivalent to each other. But, Onkyo is known for engineering superior tuners. So, I would recommend you do pick up an Onkyo receiver. It should meet all of your audio needs.