Integrated Feeding Integrated


Question about setting the volumes when using an integrated as a pre feeding another integrated as a power amp. Where do you set the volumes?

Do you open the second integrated all the way to max volume and regulate the volume on the pre or vice versa?
128x128michaelkingdom
I see - thanks for clarifying that I'll be running through two attenuators as well as 2 pre circuits.

I'm doing this because quite simply, I'm playing around. My main integrated has everything under the sun (dacs, mm, mc, rca, xlr, am/fm/hd) and I love using it for it's simplicity. However, some of my speakers sound better on other integrateds that I have previously paired them with. So, to keep my system simple (simple to me) I run 2 integrateds in the path. I know it's not ideal.

However, my question is, will running the second integrated wide open (attenuating it as little as possible) be harmful in any way? Does having an amp on max volume stress it in any way or is this just like a normal power amp (minus the eq/degredation of having the volume potentiometer) in the path?
I think that, when it is possible to disconnect the amp from an integrated, you remove any attenuation, the preamp circuit normally supplies. Thus I believe that you run the second "power amp" wide open. I have heard this suggested in other similar posts. After all aren't volume controls truly attenuators of the full signal?
That said, running any amp at full power would intuitively seem like it would indeed be stressful to the amp for example just making more heat as one parameter.
Like the others have said it is probably wise to avoid using both integrated if you can't disconnect the preamp of the second amp.
If both must have volume control the ideal should be to have the first one having the volume set to 0 db if the volume reads that way as it should effectively pass the signal without attenuating it. I may eventually hook my receiver into my integrated for more options and would end up doing this.

Running the second integrated wide open may not be a good idea. Also, there may be other ways to interface the two amps. Would you care to list your equipment and how it is connected?
The receiver that I am using as a pre has preouts (variable volume and EQable) and record out (fixed which bypasses all volume/tone controls). I find the setup sounds the best when I use the record out signal and control the volume on the second integrated. I guess I will continue to do that for now.