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
Here's one that'll make you smile :) (And yes, this is a serious suggestion...) replace your TV with a front projector - and then use a retractable screen. This will eliminate a large sonically reflective surface right between the main speakers, becaues the screen will be retracted when you're listening to 2-channel. It has a surprisingly audible impact on 2-channel imaging. I learned this by accident, because I upgraded to such a setup purely due to space concerns when I wanted a big screen, but until I find enough money to build a dedicated theatre room (as opposed to a combined theatre and concert room), I'm not going back!

Also, I've gone down the same path as you have - my speakers aren't identical but they're pretty close. However, I discovered that even adding some very different surround speakers made less difference than I would have expected. In my case, I upgraded my surrounds from Triad Silvers (dipole in-wall cone speakers) to MartinLogan Scenarios (bipole floorstanding electrostatics), and I found that both worked equally well with the main MartinLogan panels up front. Their signatures are different, but this is only perceptible when playing 5-channel audio. I don't perceive the difference AT ALL when watching movies, except that the Scenarios obviously have more bass punch. There is a difference in 5-ch music, of which I have little so far.

I can also report that my amplification is quite different front to back, and this too is not an issue. I have vertically biamped my ML Odysseys with a Classe CA200 for the cones and a Counterpoint SA220 for the panels. (This took a little tweaking!) That's the equivlaent of 800wpc@4 ohms with mixed tubes and transistors for the fronts. The surrounds make do with just a single 3-channel B&K ST3140, at 175 wpc@ 4 ohms, all transistor. This is a pretty big difference, and the only one that can be readily identified is that there is some timbre change from the mains to the center and back. I don't notice the difference to the surrounds very much. I will have to upgrade the center amplifier sometime, although I'm having a hard time imagining precisely what I would put there...
Ah, a projector. I'd like to have a projector . . . . I'd like a pony, too. Unfortunately, they both have about the same likelihood of working out in my living room. Too much light for the projector, I fear (and too much rented carpeting for the pony). ;-0)

Thanks for the suggestion, though -- I'd wondered idly about the feasibility of retractable screens, so it's nice to know that they work.

And thanks for the info on using umatched speakers and amps -- now I'm not so paranoid about trying a partial upgrade.

Thanks again to all!

Pat
You might be surprised how much light you can tolerate with the newer high-output DLP and LCD projectors. Although you cannot manage with either the sun or even a ceiling lamp shining on the screen, the colors are less washed out than you might expect. I have two unshaded windows in my room, and I can watch TV during the day (football, auto racing) quite happily, except the 20 minutes or so that the sun shines directly through one window onto the screen.

Try it - you might like it!
Blw --

I live in a rented house, so cutting holes in things isn't an option . . . . can I get a projector and screen that I could mount without doing major surgery to the ceiling? Screws and bolts in the ceiling are no problem.
Projectors are pretty flexible today. At the moment, I am in a temporary room because we're in the process of building an addition. My projector is sitting on a shelf behind and over my head. Believe it or not, the screen is actually mounted on a 2x4 frame that is free standing. If you're sufficiently determined, you can definitely arrange for this. Drop me an email and I'll send you a photo.

In my last house, both the projector and screen were bolted to the ceiling. In my case I ran the cables through the ceiling and walls, but of course that's not 100% necessary.