A Distribution Amplifier, generally abbreviated to "DA", is an active device with several outputs, used to split a signal to several destinations. They provide isolation between each of the outputs.

DAs would normally have unity gain, although many allow the gain to be increased to compensate for downstream transmission losses.

There are a number of types of DA:

• Audio Distribution Amplifiers (ADA)
• Video Distribution Amplifiers (VDA)
• VGA Distribution Amplifiers
• etc

Typical applications would include splitting the video or audio output from a source to send it to multiple audio amplifiers, or multiple video monitors, or to a local screen and multiple data projectors etc.

One specialised application might be the provision of a "press feed" at a conference or live event - it is not uncommon to provide a small flightcase with a "one-in many-out" audio DA, fed from the main mixing desk. The press and TV can then connect to individual outputs on this DA, thus removing the need for a cluster of a dozen microphones on a lectern or poduim.