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A rookie question re two amps, one pair of speakers

Hello fellow Audiogoners!

So I’d like to be able to power my B&W 683s from two different amps (not concurrently of course).
One amp would be for my 2 channel system and the other (a receiver) would be for my home theater system. So long as I’m not powering both amps at the same time, is it safe/ok/advisable to connect both amps to one pair of speakers?

I’d appreciate any comments.

Thanks much!


apalmtree
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
652 posts
 
George is right, do not connect two amp output to one pair of speakers! this topic had been discussed many times, best way to do it is using a speaker selector switch.
I had use a Niles SPK-1 years ago, it switch the connection automatically from the receiver 12V trigger.
https://www.google.com/search?q=niles+spk-1&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Yes but, it needs to be said a speaker selection switch need to be used back to front.
Amps to the speaker connections terminals and speaker to the amp terminals.

Cheers George
sfall
346 posts
 
Assuming you're able to switch back and forth properly, its completely OK to use your 2 channel amp with your HT setup. Just go through the speaker calibration setup on your receiver. It will match the gain to the rest of your speakers. A lot of people do the exact same thing.
imhififan's avatar
imhififan
652 posts
 
Yes but, it needs to be said a speaker selection switch need to be used back to front.
Amps to the speaker connections terminals and speaker to the amp terminals.
The link of Niles SPK-1 has a connection diagram and instruction :
Common application: Two receivers sharing one pair of speakers. Receiver 1 speaker outputs are hooked up to A Default input of SPK-1 Receiver 2’s speaker outputs are hooked up to B Switched input. A 12-volt AC power supply is plugged in the Receiver 2 switched power outlet and connected to the 12-volt control input of the SPK-1. Receiver 1 plays through the common speakers until Receiver 2 is turned on. Receiver 2 is now heard through the Common output

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
4,966 posts
 
Here is one that you can hook up two amps and two sets of speakers also if you want.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/TC-7220-2-Way-Amp-Amplifier-Speaker-Selector-Switch-Switcher-Comparator-Router-/391073502625?hash=item5b0dcc15a1:g:ccgAAOSwPhdU9yws

Or you can go the cheap way and use this one back to front.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/A-B-A-B-Switch-1-IN-2-OUT-2-Way-Stereo-Receiver-Speaker-Set-Selector-/152373329362?hash=item237a287dd2:g:Q9gAAOSwNSxVbL5-

Cheers George
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