Difference between a line amp and a mic preamp?

[honkyjonk]

It occurred to me to ask this somewhat remedial question today, as I frequently use the same inputs on my Yamaha PM1000 for both Mic pres and line amps.
They're made for both purposes, as the manual says.

But I was just wondering, aside from the obvious having to boost a mic signal way more than a line signal, what's the difference between a line amp and a mic preamp?

can you essentially use a mic preamp as a line amp, just not turn it up very much,
and visa versa I'd guess wouldn't work unless blasting the line amp all the way actually gets the mic up to a suitable level? (which is the case w/ the PM1000?)

Is the difference an input transformer?

I don't know. Fill me in here. . . . .

[vernier]

Yep, mostly the same except one is more powerful ..a mic-pre can be used for line, just pad it.