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
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Good answer. Impressive, even.

I would however want to be ready with the follow-up, "But what if they're both on?"  


b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,290 posts
 
https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/8685
jchiappinelli's avatar
jchiappinelli
122 posts
 
ghasley,

I know you are just raising a hypothetical question of what would happen. However, since you seem to have occasion to swap amps, you might find it more convenient to do as imhififan suggested and get yourself a Beresford Switch. They make several kinds. I have one specifically made to swap between my tubed mono blocks and my SS amp to a single pair of speakers. Just make sure amps are off when to throw the selector switch.

J.Chip

mrklas
441 posts
 
Hmmm, she may be thinking it’s time to ‘downsize or declutter’. Proceed with caution or an ‘I don’t know’
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
2,232 posts
 
@b_limo

That is one of the few units I custom built for my friend to demo amplifiers in his shop for his customers and his audio club.
His customers usually don't had time to wait an hours or two for setting up and compare tube amps, so these selectors can switch between amps, while one amp is playing the other amp still on with dummy load connected, it is the best compromise we can think of.

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