2. home-theater
  3. 1037632511

An odd idea

Got a question for all of you . . . .

I've been battling with the problem of optimizing 2-channel performance without compromising the coherence of my HT setup. I only have one room which is usuable for A/V gear, and it's loaded to the gills with speakers for HT.

I'd like to upgrade my amplification for 2-channel, but don't want to have to buy SEVEN channels of "good stuff," since that's a healthy chunk of cash and I'm happy with the HT performance of my Rotel gear.

So here's the question -- anybody ever tried hooking up one set of speakers to two different amplifiers? I'm thinking of a modified shotgun biwire cable, run backwards -- single end to the speaker, split ends to two different amps. Obviously you'd have to make sure you NEVER had both of the amps turned on at the same time . . . .

It seems to me that this would be preferable to using a switcher box, because that would put an additional "thing" in the signal path, where the split speaker cables would not.

Of course, my understanding of electronics would fit into a Vibrapod, so there might very well be a screamingly obvious reason why this would be a disaster in the making . . . .

Would this work? If it did, it would allow the use of completely different amps for 2-channel and HT without having to worry about the interaction of one with another, same for preamps.

I'd really appreciate any feedback anyone had here . . . .

Thanks!

Pat
tsrart
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
The only problem with using the 2-channel in the HT setup is that I've gone to significant lengths to ensure that my HT setup is as cohesive as possible -- speakers with identical drivers all the way around, and identical amplification (at least in terms of sonic signature), and if I throw something different into the mix, the main L and R speakers are going to SOUND different than the center, rears, and sides, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

I'm assuming that a $2000+ 2-channel amp (Bryston, Aragon, McCormack, etc.) is going to have a very different signature from my $1200 Rotel 5-channel . . . . for the price difference, it had better! ;-0)

Then again, maybe the difference wouldn't be that horrific. Unfortunately, I live in the sticks, and there are NO, repeat NO high-end dealers around here, so I don't have the opportunity to borrow something to audition and see how the mix sounds . . . .
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
You could also just use speaker cables with banana plugs, and then just manually switch the cables at the speaker to change between amps.
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Sugarbrie --

That was my second choice idea . . . . you don't think I'd eventually cause wear damage to the speaker terminals through the repeated plugging and unplugging?
sogood51
2,157 posts
 
Putting a better amp on your main speakers will not hurt your movie sound at all,it will make it better. I have done it. Your speakers are a good match for each other so it will sound fine.
prpixel
826 posts
 
If you run the output of one amp into the output of another amp your going to smoke the amp even if it is off. Had a friend that had the same idea as you using a Rotel 6 channel amp and an aragon 8008bb. As soon as he turn on the aragon amp (the rotel was off) the rotel went up in smoke. Cost over $300.00 to repair the rotel. Best thing to do is to have two sets of speaker cables and just reach behind the speakers and swap cables.
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