2. amps-preamps
  3. 156948-380

2 amplifiers connected to 1 set of speakers

I’ve been in the hobby for a few years and my wife asked me a question that stumped me.

Can you have 2 amplifiers, connected via their own individual sets of speaker cables, connected to the same pair of speakers at the same time? I told her I didn’t think that would be advisable.

The question came about when she saw me disconnecting cables from my solid state amp and connecting the cables from my tube amp. (both were off of course). She asked me why it wouldn’t be ok and I started babbling that the signal from one amp would then travel through the other set of connected cables into the amp that was not in use. Even if the other amp was off that could be problematic. If the other amp happened to be on then it could prove catastrophic for both amps and potentially cause an electrical fire.

What is the correct answer fellow audiogon members? Ralph?
ghasley
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
I had a speaker cable from a tube (valve) amp fall onto a cable plugged into a class d amp. It was biamped. The weird thing, the class Ds were not ON, just plugged in. That cable drop tripped a 20 amp breaker, took out a channel on my MC275 GG and a second VTL 300 MB. 
I had to laugh, what a fumble. I'd have never thought a cable could cost 2500.00 in repairs. Not long after, my main preamp a C2500, lost the right channel.  Coincidence, I don't think so.. I have all my gear hooked to cleaners and maintainers. NOT a single blown fuse, or tripped breaker, only at the main when it first happened...

Be careful.. 50+ years of this. I never pulled one like that....

Regards
gdnrbob
4,447 posts
 
Well, there is biamping.
Either Vertical or Horizontal, but you would be sending a signal from each amplifier to a different set of speaker terminations-for speakers wired for such.
B
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,205 posts
 
Instead of swapping cables, I think using a high quality amplifier selector is a safer way to switching amplifiers.

http://www.beresford.me/S/home_htm_files/TC-7220MKII.pdf
ghasley OP
2,499 posts
 
To be clear. I have two amps, two pair of speaker cables, one pair of speakers. I’m not asking if it can be done or how it can be done, I’m asking what would happen if someone tried. Thanks for the responses thus far.
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