Stupid Power Amp question...

[DisturbedStudio]

I know that power amps can be used to power passive monitors or speaker cabinets for your guitar, but what else are they used for? Every rack picture I see over at the Harmony Central group has power amps. Am I missing something?

Thanks for not flaming me?

 

[cominginsecond]

Power amps power speakers. As far as I know, that's it. If someone has power amps in their rack it means they need to power some speakers. I think it's that simple.

 

[Ethan Winer]

> what else are they used for?

In the old days (60s-70s) power amps were also sometimes used to drive the capstan motor of a tape recorder to accomplish vari-speed. I used to have an Ampex AG-440 and a Bogen tube PA amp with a special 115 volt output transformer. A sine wave oscillator that swept from about 25 Hz. to 110 Hz. drove the power amp, and the power amp drove the capstan motor. But usually power amps drive loudspeakers.

--Ethan

 

[TexRoadkill]

For instruments some people prefer a good guitar preamp and a seperate power amp instead of a combo pre/power head.

In the studio its to power monitors.