Amplifier - Tuner - Audio Receiver - PreAmplifier... What is the difference?

You will probably just want a Home Theater Receiver that has connections for two sets of speakers. This is a very common feature. --Amplifier only provides power to speakers, only.

--Tuner only tunes in radio stations (AM/FM), only.

--Pre amp will let you plug in all your sources (ie tuner, CD, DVD, VCR, etc.) it will switch them, and translate surround sound for 5.1 etc. & has the volume control. Some have tuners built in (most do not) some Pre amps can provide outputs for other zones to allow for example the DVD to be played in the theater while the radio plays in the bedroom but will not provide the power to those speakers. There are also multi zone pre amps that are designed to not do surround sound, that are ment to send many different sources (again CD, radio etc.) to many different zones (Living room, Den, Master bed etc.) These pre amps also need amps to power speakers & most use keypads in each zone to control them.

--Audio receiver is a pre amp, multi channel amp, tuner all in one. In most they also can provide signal to a 2nd zone. to do that some need an outboard amp for that 2nd zone, depending on the number of speakers in your theater. HI there.An Amplifier is a component that receives the tiny electrical signal from a Source component which can be a CD Player,aTuner, a Record Player,a DVD Player etc.and makes a bigger signal to send to the speakers.An Amplifier usually is made up a pre-amplifier and a power amplifier also known as an Integrated Amplifier.