Buffer or pre-amp?

[electronoobz]

is buffer similar to preamp and it's just that it dont have any controls?

 

[duke37]

I imagine the words mean what you want them to mean.

My interpretation is that a buffer isolates the source from the load, possibly by having a high input impedance and a low output impedance.

A preamp amplifies the signal, it may or may not have controls.

 

[BobK]

A buffer typically has no voltage gain. An amplifier typically, does.

Bob

 

[electronoobz]

but both of them is used when using long cables right??