Definition
The term "amplifier" is generally used to refer to the components that produce sound in musical (and audio) equipment. But to understand how amplifiers work, it is important to relate the process to how the human ear receives sound. When an object vibrates (produces sound waves that disrupt particles in the air), those vibrations or interruptions of air particles then create a ripple in the atmosphere (sound). The ear receives these fluctuations in air pressure and then communicates, in the form of an electrical signal, with the brain to receive and then translate those vibrations into a recognized sound. Essentially, an amplifier makes the same translation and allows sound to be received.
How Sound and Amplifiers Work
Amplifiers work off of sound waves. A microphone diaphragm is present to receive and translate movement (as translated to an electrical signal that is then "read" by the diaphragm). The electrical signal that is transmitted is made up of the compressions and rarefactions of the sound wave, and is then encoded as a pattern. When the stereo translates the electrical signal, electricity is used to move the speaker cone back and forth. An amplifier is used to enhance the audio signal to a larger current and thus produce a higher-quality sound. In other words, an amplifier creates a more powerful and fluid version of the audio sound that is received by the speaker cones during its initial receipt of the sound wave vibrations.
New Output
An amplifier will create a new output signal, as powered by the amplifier's power supply. As the new output is being generated, the power supply will even out the current to produce a more fluid signal and more powerful sound. This new output allows the sound quality to increase and thus creates the experience listeners recognize when using an amplifier. The biggest feature of an amplifier is the boost in sound as well as the power of the sound overall. This is evidenced by the thumping vibrations generated in the speaker cones during the transmission of the new signal. The more substantial the vibration, the more powerful the sound for the listener.
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