Speakers do not need amps. You can plug a speaker into the wall and it will work just fine.

The reason why you would want to use an amplifier is for two reasons:

To increase the power going to your speakers. Amplifiers typically have higher wattage than a simple passive speaker. If you have a small speaker that only puts out 1 watt of power (like many bookshelf speakers), then it’ll be pretty hard to hear in a large room. An amplifier can raise the power going to your speakers and make them louder.

To improve the sound quality of your system by reducing distortion, adding bass boost, or enhancing other aspects of the audio signal. This isn’t always necessary, but if you’re looking for better sound quality than what comes out of an unamplified speaker then it might be worth getting an amp.

Last modified: November 15, 2022