Editing Audio power amplifier (section)

{{Short description|Audio amplifier with power output sufficient to drive a loudspeaker}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Power amplifier|RF power amplifier}}
{{more citations needed|date=April 2019}}
[[File:Mcintosh MC-2300 Front.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Audio stereo power amplifier made by [[McIntosh Laboratory|McIntosh]]]]
[[File:MissionCyrus1-2.JPG|thumb|right|250px| The internal view of a Mission Cyrus One hi-fi integrated audio amplifier (1984)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bestforacar.com/integrated-amplifier-all-versions/ |title=1 – Integrated Amplifier (All Versions) |access-date=2011-01-16 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110424050529/http://www.cyrusaudio.com/product-archive/amps/1-integrated-amplifier-all-versions |archive-date=2011-04-24 }} Cyrus Audio: Product Archive: Cyrus One</ref>]]

An '''audio power amplifier''' (or '''power amp''') [[electronic amplifier|amplifies]] low-power electronic [[audio signal]]s, such as the signal from a [[radio receiver]] or an electric guitar [[pickup (music technology)|pickup]], to a level that is high enough for driving [[loudspeaker]]s or [[headphones]]. Audio power amplifiers are found in all manner of sound systems including [[sound reinforcement]], [[public address]], [[home audio]] systems and musical [[instrument amplifier]]s like [[guitar amplifier]]s.  It is the final electronic stage in a typical audio playback [[signal chain|chain]] before the signal is sent to the loudspeakers.

The preceding stages in such a chain are low-power audio amplifiers which perform tasks like [[preamplifier|pre-amplification]] of the signal, [[equalization (audio)|equalization]], [[mixing console|mixing different input signals]]. The inputs can also be any number of audio sources like [[record player]]s, [[CD player]]s, [[digital audio player]]s and [[cassette player]]s. Most audio power amplifiers require these low-level inputs, which are [[line level]].

While the input signal to an audio power amplifier, such as the signal from an electric guitar, may measure only a few hundred [[watt|microwatts]], its output may be a few watts for small consumer electronics devices, such as [[clock radio]]s, tens or hundreds of watts for a [[home stereo system]], several thousand watts for a [[nightclub]]'s sound system or tens of thousands of watts for a large rock concert sound reinforcement system. While power amplifiers are available in standalone units, typically aimed at the [[hi-fi]] audiophile market (a niche market) of audio enthusiasts and sound reinforcement system professionals, many [[consumer electronics]] audio products such as an [[integrated amplifier]], a [[Receiver (radio)|receiver]], clock radios, [[boombox]]es and [[television]]s have both a preamplifier and a power amplifier contained in a single chassis.