newbie needs "terms" and identification help

[drewchas]

I bought a Harman Kardon stereo receiver in the early '90s because of the following information. I was told that there were three types of amplifiers. The first was a "tube" amp--the most powerful of the three--and these were the kind used by recording studios or other professional outfits. The second was a discrete-component amp--the next most powerful. The third was a chip-component amp. These did not have a lot of amplifying power, but they often had a lot of bells and whistles. I bought the Harman Kardon because I wanted the discrete-component-amp power.

I've recently come into possession of a Kenwood KR-3200 stereo receiver. Does anybody know if it's a tube amp, a discrete-component amp, or a chip-component amp?

 

[voltcontrol]

Some things garbled up here.

Type of design;
Tube - Solid State - Chip

All types can be discretely built up or not, discrete is better indeed.
Any amp can have a good or a bad build or/and sound quality regardless of type...

Dunno the Kenwood KR-3200, but you can find specs...

 

[cademan]

I've recently come into possession of a Kenwood KR-3200 stereo receiver. Does anybody know if it's a tube amp, a discrete-component amp, or a chip-component amp?

A tube amp will have.......well, tubes! A solid state amp (depending on design) can have either discreet or chip outputs.

A discreet output device is a single transistor. Two or more will make up the amplifier's left and right output section.

Chip amp component is something like a single chip for the left & right outputs, or a single chip for the left, and a single chip for the right.

A chip output is usually an amplifier block stamped with letters like "STK" and followed by numbers. If you have this Kenwood in your possesion, open her up and have a look-see!

I believe the KR-3200 has 4 discreet output transistors. 2 for the left channel, and 2 for the right channel.

 

[w1jim]

I suspect by a "chip" amp he is referring to components built with Surface Mount Devices (SMDs). Great for fast (and cheap) automated production but rather a bear to repair without specialized tools.

 

[mashaffer]

Also some SS amps may have discrete outputs but still use "chips" i.e. integrated circuits in other places. The power output is not really a function of type but getting stupid high output powers is much more expensive with tubes so generally speaking the mega power amps are solid state but there are 5W discrete solid state amps and 100+ watt tube amps so you can't really paint with too broad of a brush.

Whether discrete v.s. IC, through hole v.s. surface mount, PC board v.s. point to point wired relate more to maintainability and size than anything else.

mike

 

[cademan]

Well.....DUH! I think the generalization is if someone were to ask me if it were a chip, tube or discreet amplifier, I wouldn't be concerned if it had microprocessors somewhere else like in the pre or power supply stages.

This is just the way I took the OP's original post to be meant! I would!

If someone were to ask me if their amp were a chip amp, I would reply (just because I have always known chip amps to be called that if it were in the output stage) yes if it contained an STK pak, even if it did contain preamp chips.

If someone asked me if their amp were a discrete component amp, I would also say yes, even if it had chips in the preamp or power supply stages, and the discrete's were the output devices.

If it were a hybrid amp, then I'd say yes if it contained both tubes and/or transistors and chips.

I would say "TUBE AMP ONLY" if it did not contain chips, microprocessors, or transistors, but tubes, resistors, capacitors, and transformers only!

Now, I'm going to get all kinds of snark replies! Oh well...........I tried! Have at it!

 

[voltcontrol]

Perhaps some examples?

Chip amp (let's stick to amps that heve chips in the output stage indeed);
47 laboratory gaincard

Sonic Impact T-amp

Solid State amp;
Most amps are SS, just go the any big manufacturers site and look at the recievers or power amps.

Tube;
A Fisher

Audion Silver Knight II

And as mentioned above, there are hybrid forms which use more than one of the design'types'.