What is the difference between an amplifier and an equalizer?

In audio processing, equalization (EQ) is the process of restoring the frequency envelope of a sound. In passing through any channel, data is temporal/frequency spreading occurs. Etymologically, it means to correct, or make equal, the frequency response of a signal. The term "equalizer" is eroneous applied as a general term for audio filters. DJ mixing equipment and Hifi audio components often include so called graphic equalizers/equalisers or simply equalizer/equaliser. These are in fact general all purpose filters, which can be arranged to produce the effect of low pass, high pass, band pass and band stop filters. Only when these filters are arranged so as to reverse the effects of the internal circuitry on sound output, are they operating as equalisers. An amplifier makes a large copy of an input signal. You control how large with the volume control.

An equaliser is a group filters. It allows you to play around with the sytem's frequency reponse, i.e. make it amplifiy some frequencies more than it amplifies others (and in so doing destroy the flat frequency response which the amplifier's designer struggled to achieve.) A amplifier just makes the sound more powerful sounding. A equalizer is just for tweaking the sound after it is amplified. Without a equalizer all your frequecies are set at flat or 0db. If your receiver has a bass and treble adjustment you don't really need a equalizer because those two adjusments do a really good job at adjusting the sound. Plus its much easier to adjust two adjustments than a 5 or 7 band equalizer. An amplifier is designed to amplify music, basically giving sound to your speakers and a EQ is to tailor your music to your taste

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