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Home high fidelity systems come in two forms. 1) Integrated (Amplifier and source unit(s) is housed in the same box) 2) Separated (Amplifer and source unit(s) are connected via cabling) Also referred to as 'separates', a hifi system made up from 'separates' is usually preferred by audio enthusiasts. The reason a system of 'separates' is preferrable, is in part due to it's flexibility, and the amount of specialist manufacturers offering superior components in comparison to integrated system manufacturers. A system made up of separates will need an amplifier as it's base unit. An amplifier or 'amp' for short, can come in two units, a 'pre-amplifier' and a 'power' amplifier, or both integrated into the same unit. A receiver on the other hand, is an amplifier which has been integrated with either a equalizer, tuner, CD, or dvd player. Some of the latest receivers come with digital video decoders, which support the latest high definition discs. For arguments sake, let's assume a standard amplifier is chosen as the base unit of a new system. To complete the system a 'source' unit is required. A 'source' unit refers to either a tuner, CD player, turntable, or cassette deck. Otherwise, there will be no piece of equipment to play a CD, LP, Cassette or the Radio. It is possible to hook a receiver to a set of speakers, but this may not strictly be classified as a 'separate' hifi system. To summerise, a traditional stereo kit is normally associated with a standard amplifier, source unit and a set of speakers. Things are changing however, due to multichannel source units becoming an intrinsic part of music reproduction. While SACD and DVD audio have yet to become all encompassing, a steady stream of these units are being sold by retailers. The average price of hifi separates has gone up in recent years. Due
to the popularity of quality integrated hifi systems, the selection of
budget hifi separates had dwindled. While the choice is slimmer, quality
budget brands still abound, such as 'Cambridge Audio'. The upside is,
the overall quality of budget separates has increased.
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Hifi Separates
