switching between two amplifiers; issues of power


Hello and thanks for your insight.

I am ordering a second amp, an inexpensive class D amp, fueled by two Icepower modules, the 300AS1, I believe, which outputs 150 watts into 8ohms and 300 into 4 ohms. It can handle a load as low as 2.7 ohms.

This is a Swiss-assembled amp that I've ordered because my almost utterly amazing Nuforce STA200, also a $500 amp, runs hot when I play it a little into the loud.

My question: when the new amp arrives and I want to swap the speakers to the new XTZ amp, can I leave the Nuforce plugged in and "on," while there are no speaker cables affixed, and visa-versa with the other amp. I would like to compare the two amps and I don't want to damage an amp for lack of speaker load.

Thank you and best regards,
listening99
Leaving them on without a load (speakers) will not cause any harm! Leave an IC connected between preamp and each amp through a y - connector if your preamp lacks two sets of outputs.
As a side bar, I’d suggest looking at speakers that aren’t so difficult to drive. It will make your amplifier choices easier and sound quality will improve too, all things considered.

Oz



I'm under the impression that when making a switch as you described above one should always power off first.
As indicated on pages 15 and 24 of the ICEpower300AS1 datasheet its + and - output terminals both have 27.25 volts of DC on them. (A number of other older ICEpower modules are like that). So **if** the physical arrangement of the connectors on the amp makes it possible for either conductor of the speaker cable, when being connected or disconnected while the amp is turned on, to briefly but simultaneously come in contact with the output terminal and either the ground sleeve of a nearby RCA connector, or the metal release tab of an XLR connector, or the chassis of the amp, or the shell of the plug on a connected interconnect cable, damage would be very possible.

Regards,
-- Al