[DrFalkyn]

“Amplification” has to be one the most misunderstood concepts In electronics

No signal is really “boosted” by some weird process. What happens is a very powerful DC signal (i.e constant) is selectively allowed through, being mediated by the input signal. The “volume knob” on a power amp works by ATTENUATING that constant DC signal prior to “amplification”

[mindslight]

This feels like a typical political comment (or youtube ad) but applied to electronics. Calling the common model false, writing it off as "weird", and then making up a new model with a hint of truth but still less explanatory power than the original one. Like, just don't.

It seems like you're stuck focusing on where the energy comes from, hence wanting to talk about the "powerful DC signal" (eg power supply). But the concept of amplification says nothing about where the energy comes from - it's merely talking about the magnitude of a signal being increased. You can also say "an audio amplifier requires a power supply". Multiple concepts apply to the same situation! This is true everywhere in life, but it's easier to ignore for software and impossible to ignore for electronic design.

[weard_beard]

Thanks, now my left ear hurts. Haha. All I know is it goes to 11

(I love that you’re passionate about the details and it is certainly beautiful to imagine it the way you describe. Im picturing an ocean and the mediation little birds flying down and sculpting the crests of waves. The attenuation is like the Venetian MOSE flood barriers.)