[RootScript]

Recently I have been buying lots of tubes and enjoy comparing the differences. I been getting a little fed up of wiggling & pulling my tubes out of my single tube amplifier, so now I have 4 identical tube amps, with different tubes; and I would like to be able to switch & compare amplifiers (while listening to the same piece of music, and using the same speakers).

I have to keeping swapping the output from my DAC to each of the 4 amps & also swapping the speaker cables between tube amps.

I am in need of some sort of reverse switchbox (1 input, 4 switchable outputs), that I can use to switch outputs between tube amplifiers, using only 1 pair of speakers, and 1 DAC as source input.
I've been told to never run my tube amps without having speakers connected, so I am wondering if someone could advise me on what options I have, maybe there is even a product out there that fits my needs.

So to recap:

• something that allows me to switch the output from my DAC between each of my 4 valve amplifiers
• somehing that allows me to use 1 pair speakers with 4 amps too (obviously only connected to 1 amplifier at a time, so maybe a 'break before make' switch), without damaging the tube amps that are switched on, but not connected to any speaker load)

I would really appreciate some guidance.  I understand that switch boxes for speakers & amplifiers are not going to give me a clean signal path, so maybe my question might be 'looked down on', but I would just want it to help me with my 'overall' tube comparisons TESTS, after which i WILL setup individual systems with a clean system path

Please don't ignore this, based on it not being the 'ideal / cleanest signal path', It is just a 'stepping stone' tool I would like some help with, so that I don't damage any of my tube amplifiers by

• constantly swapping tubes & connectors.
• risk running my tube amplifiers without a speaker load & damaging them

I hope that explains my situation & reasoning.

[RootScript]

Well here is part of the solution, which in principle allows switching output between amplifiers, without leaving an empty load (no speakers connected) to unselected tube amplifiers:



"A note about Tube Amps: If you are going to use your speaker selector with a tube amp, you'll need to be aware of some additional specifics.
Almost all tube amps must have a load connected at all times.
Speaker selector manufacturers may recommend that you either leave one pair of speakers on at all times
or permanently connect a 150 ohm, five-watt resistor across the tube amps output in parallel with the switcher."

Next part is to find a reliable 'Break Before make' switch, also known as 'Non Shorting Rotary Switch'