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How to share speakers without bypass?

I hope I am not the only one in this predicament. I am adding a separate two-channel system into the same room where my home theater lives. I would like to share the two front speakers between the two-channel amp and AV receiver. No, I cannot consider using a HT bypass (or pass through). The two-channel amp is tubed and would need to be powered on and warmed up (20 min). This is not a problem for us adults, but when our 8 year old (or the other kids that flood in) needs to watch a DVD 'NOW', well, you see the problem.

So, my options are:
(1) Buy some additional front speakers to keep everything separate. Only drawback is the speakers would have to be small (space limitations and wife). This means HT would suffer a bit; Merlins vs satellite speakers.

(2) Find a quality switcher that connects two amps to one pair of speakers. Don't know if this is possible and would not want my two-channel listening to suffer.

Or? Please help if any of you have pondered this.
jazzalot
zoya
120 posts
 
I didn't try it but in theory the following should work - if you use biwire in reverse - connect each speaker to both amps outputs. As long as you power only one amp at a time there shouldn't be any signal crossing. And output stage of either amp when it's OFF should not have any problem with the external signal on its output.
Please anybody correct me if I'm wrong on this.
jazzalot OP
3 posts
 
Thanks Tqn999, is this the unit you are using?

http://www.bryston.ca/2switch.html

And, have you noticed any drawbacks in two-channel music quality when using it?
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
I found this AMPSWITCH on-line. Contact them for more info.

http://www.demion.co.uk/accessories.html

Stewart
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,703 posts
 
"I didn't try it but in theory the following should work - if you use biwire in reverse - connect each speaker to both amps outputs. As long as you power only one amp at a time there shouldn't be any signal crossing. And output stage of either amp when it's OFF should not have any problem with the external signal on its output.
Please anybody correct me if I'm wrong on this."

Here goes: Don't do this. First, even with the tube amp off, its transformer secondary will shunt the output of the other working amp. When using the tube amp, there may well be sufficiently low resistance at the unpowered SS amp to affect operations as well. Second, Don't leave open the possibility of operating them both as the same time.

Get a switch. Instead of a backwards bi-wire, use a backwards speaker selector switch!
eldulcesol
197 posts
 
Zoya, I would like to add to your suggestion, or theory. If you bi-wire in reverse, why would the amp and receiver be on at the same time? If they have to be on, why not put one in stand-by, mute or speaker off while the other is in use.

By doing this, you would avoid breaking the speaker wire.
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