re: Home audio/video setup: How to wire and what equipment do I need?

quote:

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The amp you add to your receiver to send juice to more speakers but has no control over anything else

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I believe the word for what you're referring to is "power amp."

Generally speaking:
Preamps typically give a line-level output which is often times your red/white RCA connectors
Power amps usually take a line-level input and output to the speakers.