
The main specification that jumps out at you when shopping for an amplifier is the power spec. The power of a stereo amp is represented by a wattage value: the higher the wattage value then the more power per channel you will get. The main thing to bear in mind when deciding on a power rating is the capability of your speakers. A stereo amplifier with a 200-watt power rating will not play twice as loud as an amp with a
100-watt power rating, but it will be capable of pumping the volume to a crescendo at crucial moments in the music. So if your speakers can handle 200 watts of power coursing through them, a higher wattage device will give the music the dynamic quality that lower wattage stereo amps lack.
Stereo amplifiers pick up a signal from a source, amplify it and send it to the speakers, but an amplifier need not be restricted just to one source. If you have a
radio tuner,
CD player,
MP3 player and a
turntable, you will want a stereo amp with variable channels to switch between each source. Before embarking on a shopping trip for your stereo amplifier, first count up all the different sound channels you will need to amplify. This could include some or all of those listed above, as well as
games consoles and
televisions. Be sure of the exact amount of channels you need, as well any more you may want in the near future, before you make your purchase.