Single-ended

When used to describe an amplifier, this term means one power tube [frequently a triode] or transistor is solely utilized to amplify the entire audio signal in the amp. Most often used in hi-fi audio, single-ended amplifiers are popular because of their simplicity of design, which follows with the concept that less is more (i.e. the fewer components in the shortest possible audio path equals higher signal fidelity). Single-ended amplifiers tend to be low output – generally less than 10 watts – and need very sensitive speakers in order to translate the signal well and genuinely sound their best.