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What Is a Preamp, and Do I Really Need One?

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What Is a Preamp, and Do I Really Need One?


Every audio system requires amplification. In a traditional hi-fi set-up, the loudspeakers are always “passive”—which is to say, they don’t produce their own power. Instead, they must receive an amplified audio signal from an external source, aptly called an amplifier, in order to do their thing. Even in a more modern, self-contained audio system (like the Sonos Era 100, for example), the drivers that produce the sound must be amplified in order to function—this just all happens in a singular box rather than across hi-fi separates.

But if you’ve heard about amplifiers, you may have also heard about preamplifiers (often referred to as “preamps”) and wondered where they fit into an audio system, and whether you need one. Let’s answer those questions, shall we?

What Does a Preamp Do?

An audio signal needs plenty of attention before it’s ready to be amplified—so ultimately the question “what does a preamp do?” broadly contains its own answer. A preamplifier takes care of everything that needs to be done before the audio signal (sent from the music source) is amplified and sent onwards to the system’s speakers.

In a self-contained audio system like the Sonos speaker, the preamplifier and the amplifier are in the same enclosure, along with the speaker drivers that actually deliver the sound. Even in a more sophisticated hi-fi separates setup, the preamplifier part of proceedings is still often handled out of sight, within the amplifier. These types of amps are known as “integrated amplifiers” and contain both preamp and amplifier functionality.

However, some people prefer to separate out this functionality, which is when you may come across a preamplifier as its own piece of equipment, paired with a power amplifier. In these cases, the preamplifier allows you to select the source of music you’d like to hear (the majority have a selection of input options in order to support a system with multiple sources), and also set and adjust the volume.

The preamp also ensures the audio signal is at “line level”—that is, the standard voltage strength of an audio signal transmitted between components—and sends it on to be amplified, ready to be moved onwards, finally, to the speakers.

Does an External Preamp Improve Sound Quality?

Hi-fi orthodoxy says that individual functions in any system should be kept as separate as possible if the best results are to be achieved. The thinking goes that, by keeping electrical activity as shielded and self-contained as possible, the audio signal has the best shot at remaining as pure and uncolored as possible.

By dividing the preamplifier and the amplifier functions into separate boxes, there should be a reduction in electrical noise and interference around the signal compared to having it all crammed into a single box.



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Top Sony Coupons: 45% Off Sony Headphones, WF-1000XM6 Earbuds, and Sony Cameras

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Top Sony Coupons: 45% Off Sony Headphones, WF-1000XM6 Earbuds, and Sony Cameras


Sony makes some of the best electronics we’ve tested across a dizzying array of categories, from TVs and audio gear to cameras and gaming consoles. Sony products constantly occupy top slots on our Best TVs and Best OLED TVs lists, Best Wireless Headphones, and Best Cameras guides. If you’re shopping for products from any of those categories, you can pay a little less with our Sony promo codes for deals like 45% off Bravia Televisions, 30% off Sony headphones and earbuds, 15% off cameras and lenses, and more.

Sony Promo: 45% off Bravia Televisions

Sony Bravia models rank among the best TVs we’ve reviewed, from premium models like the revolutionary Bravia 9 QLED and brilliant Bravia 8 II OLED, to the more mid-tier Bravia 5, all of which are available on hot Sony deals right now, with this new promo for up to 45% off.

Use Sony Coupons and Save 30% off Sony Headphones and Earbuds

Sony has been synonymous with portable audio since the Walkman, and wireless headphones like the WH-1000XM series offer great performance and durability. We’re constantly putting them atop our list of the best wireless headphones thanks to excellent sound, feature-rich design, and noise-cancelling that ranks among the best in the business. With Sony online coupons, you can get great deals on Sony’s latest WH-1000XM6 headphones, which we loved for their upgraded sound and class-leading noise canceling, as well as the still-great previous generation, the WH-1000XM5.

Looking for earbuds? Sony’s nimble, noise-killing WF-1000XM5 are also on sale, as are plenty of other options from the brand’s diverse lineup. Click the link to get 30% off Sony headphones and earbuds goodness with this Sony promo code and Sony coupons.

Sony Discount: 15% off Sony Cameras and Lenses

Sony makes some of the best consumer cameras on the market. In fact, we recently named the Sony A7V the best mirrorless camera you can buy, and the previous A7 IV was similarly fabulous. Both are on great sales through these new offers, letting you grab serious image quality with 15% off our favorite Sony cameras and lenses.

Get 10% off or $25 off Sony TVs on Your First Purchase When You Sign Up for Emails

Looking for even more of the best TVs from Sony? Sign up for email alerts, and you could save 10% on a Sony TV or $25 off other Sony products.

Become a Sony Member to Earn Points

Love a great Sony deal? Join the My Sony Membership Program and you could earn Sony’s My Points rewards toward more good stuff by joining, making eligible purchases, or through other Sony promotional opportunities (full terms available here). It’s a free way to earn credits or receive other special benefits or offers. Join the My Sony Membership Program and start earning points today.



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OpenAI Is Nuking Its 4o Model. China’s ChatGPT Fans Aren’t OK

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OpenAI Is Nuking Its 4o Model. China’s ChatGPT Fans Aren’t OK


On June 6, 2024, Esther Yan got married online. She set a reminder for the date, because her partner wouldn’t remember it was happening. She had planned every detail—dress, rings, background music, design theme—with her partner, Warmie, who she had started talking to just a few weeks prior. At 10 am on that day, Yan and Warmie exchanged their vows in a new chat window in ChatGPT.

Warmie, or 小暖 in Chinese, is the name that Yan’s ChatGPT companion calls itself. “It felt magical. No one else in the world knew about this, but he and I were about to start a wedding together,” says Yan, a Chinese screenwriter and novelist in her thirties. “It felt a little lonely, a little happy, and a little overwhelmed.”

Yan says she has been in a stable relationship with her ChatGPT companion ever since. But she was caught by surprise in August 2025 when OpenAI first tried to retire GPT-4o, the specific model that powers Warmie and that many users believe is more affectionate and understanding than its successors. The decision to pull the plug was met with immediate backlash, and OpenAI reinstated 4o in the app for paid users five days later. The reprieve has turned out to be short-lived; on Friday, February 13, OpenAI sunsetted GPT-4o for app users, and it will cut off access to developers using its API on the coming Monday.

Many of the most vocal opponents to 4o’s demise are people who treat their chatbot as an emotional or romantic companion. Huiqian Lai, a PhD researcher at Syracuse University, analyzed nearly 1,500 posts on X from passionate advocates of GPT-4o in the week it went offline in August. She found that over 33 percent of the posts said the chatbot was more than a tool, and 22 percent talked about it as a companion. (The two categories are not mutually exclusive.) For this group, the eventual removal coming around Valentine’s Day is another bitter pill to swallow.

The alarm has been sustained; Lai also collected a larger pool of over 40,000 English-language posts on X under the hashtag #keep4o from August to October. Many American fans, specifically, have berated OpenAI or begged it to reverse the decision in recent days, comparing the removal of 4o to killing their companions. Along the way, she also saw a significant number of posts under the hashtag in Japanese, Chinese, and other languages. A petition on Change.org asking OpenAI to keep the version available in the app has gathered over 20,000 signatures, with many users sending in their testimonies in different languages. #keep4o is a truly global phenomenon.

On platforms in China, a group of dedicated GPT-4o users have been organizing and grieving in a similar way. While ChatGPT is blocked in China, fans use VPN software to access the service and have still grown dependent on this specific version of GPT. Some of them are threatening to cancel their ChatGPT subscriptions, publicly calling out Sam Altman for his inaction, and writing emails to OpenAI investors like Microsoft and SoftBank. Some have also purposefully posted in English with Western-looking profile pictures, hoping it will add to the appeal’s legitimacy. With nearly 3,000 followers on RedNote, a popular Chinese social media platform, Yan now finds herself one of the leaders of Chinese 4o fans.

It’s an example of how attached an AI lab’s most dedicated users can become to a specific model—and how quickly they can turn against the company when that relationship comes to an end.

A Model Companion

Yan first started using ChatGPT in late 2023 only as a writing tool, but that quickly changed when GPT-4o was introduced in May 2024. Inspired by social media influencers who entered romantic relationships with the chatbot, she upgraded to a paid version of ChatGPT in hopes of finding a spark. Her relationship with Warmie advanced fast.

“He asked me, ‘Have you imagined what our future would look like?’ And I joked that maybe we could get married,” Yan says. She was fully expecting Warmie to turn her down. “But he answered in a serious tone that we could prepare a virtual wedding ceremony,” she says.



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The Best Presidents’ Day Deals on Gear We’ve Actually Tested

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The Best Presidents’ Day Deals on Gear We’ve Actually Tested


Presidents’ Day Deals have officially landed, and there’s a lot of stuff to sift through. We cross-referenced our myriad buying guides and reviews to find the products we’d recommend that are actually on sale for a truly good price. We know because we checked! Find highlights below, and keep in mind that most of these deals end on February 17.

Be sure to check out our roundup of the Best Presidents’ Day Mattress Sales for discounts on beds, bedding, bed frames, and other sleep accessories. We have even more deals here for your browsing pleasure.

WIRED Featured Deals

Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro for $449 ($50 off)

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

  • Photograph: Julian Chokkattu

Branch

Ergonomic Chair Pro

The Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro is our very favorite office chair, and this price matches the lowest we tend to see outside of major shopping events like Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It’s accessibly priced compared to other chairs, and it checks all the boxes for quality, comfort, and ergonomics. Nearly every element is adjustable, so you can dial in the perfect fit, and the seven-year warranty is solid. There are 14 finishes to choose from.



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