An AV pre-amplifier (also called pre-amp/processor, pre/pro, or surround processor) contains audio and video switching and audio processing (which includes converting digital audio to analog, processing digital signals such as Dolby Digital and DTS, time delay for each output channel to reflect different speaker distances from the listening position, bass management, and such). A processor like this does not include amplification to drive the speakers. An amplifier is a component that solely accepts an input signal (or as many as seven input signals) and amplifies the signal(s) to drive speaker(s). A receiver cmobines the features of a processor in the same chassis as an amplifier. Direct examples from Outlaw's product line would be:
- processor: Model 990
- multi-channel amplifier: Model 7125
- monoblock (single channel) amplifier: Model 2200
- receiver: Model 1070