28 April 2019

Difference between amplifier and oscillator

An amplifier is an electronic circuit providing output as an amplified form and an oscillator is an electronic circuit providing output without input application. There is no periodic signal generated by the amplifier.

Main Difference :

The main key difference between amplifier and oscillator is that amplifier is an electronic device that is used to increase the amplitude of electrical signal but in the oscillator is an electric device that is used to generate oscillatory electric current or voltage by no mechanical means.


amplifier vs oscillator


Difference between amplifier and oscillator is listed below:


  • The amplifier is an electronics circuit which gives output as an amplified form of input while in the oscillator is an electronic circuit which gives output without application of input.
  • The amplifier is basically negative feedback but oscillator uses positive feedback.
  • The amplifier does not produce any signal but oscillator are built to generate electronic signals.
  • Amplifier operates as a muliplier, oscillator oprate as a souce.
  • The amplifier provides an amplified signal, the oscillator is given the oscillatory signal.
  • The amplifier does not generate any periodic signal but the oscillator is generating of the periodic electronic signal.
  • Amplifiers do nothing till input signal is fed to the input, oscillator produces a signal from the moment of power.
  • The amplifier has both input and output while oscillators only have an output.
  • An oscillator generates a signal with a specific type of frequency so an oscillator itself uses an amplifier in order to generate a strong signal.
  • An Amplifier accepts an as input signal and produces a basically output signal which is an amplified version of the input signal.
  • In amplifier phase shift between input and output generally in between 180 degrees while the oscillator phase shift between input and output is 0 degree or 360 degrees.
  • In an amplifier, output frequency depends on active as well as the passive component used, while oscillator output frequency depends on only passive components.

Explore more information: