[mlundy57]

I have a 5.1 setup that I use for both 2.1 music listening and 5.1 HT viewing.  I would like to use the music source connected to tube amps for 2.1 listening and the AVR with its 5.1 speaker connections for HT. Would it be feasible to use a Y adapter at the speaker or install two pairs of binding posts, one for each amp?

Both amps would not be sending signals to the speakers at the same time.

Mike

[RDavidson]

Pretty positive you'll need a selector box, not a splitter.
I think you run the risk of blowing some stuff up without a safety mechanism.

http://www.russound.com/product_detail.php?i=1768

[JerryM]

Yes, both options you've listed are feasible. Unconventional, but feasible.

If you had either option in use, and very accidentally had (or turned) both amps on at the same time, it would be ugly. Very ugly, indeed.

[Early B.]

Another option is to simply switch out speaker cables -- one set for HT and the other for 2-channel. That's what I do.

[Captainhemo]

Another option is to simply switch out speaker cables -- one set for HT and the other for 2-channel. That's what I do.

Also risky ,  you  don't want to accidently power on the tube amp without a load connected.  I know , sounds   like a dumby mistake but  it can easily happen.

OTOH, not sure  if you want a  "swtching device" in the  path either... not sure on the effect  it may have. 
Guess yo uhave to look at   which is the lesser evil

-jay

[RDavidson]

Also risky ,  you  don't want to accidently power on the tube amp without a load connected.  I know , sounds   like a dumby mistake but  it can easily happen.

OTOH, not sure  if you want a  "swtching device" in the  path either... not sure on the effect  it may have. 
Guess yo uhave to look at   which is the lesser evil

-jay

Yup. All options are a compromise of some sort. I would just buy another set of speakers and totally separate the 2 channel setup from the HT setup. Safest way to go. Least compromise sound wise. Just space and wallet considerations....but what's new?

[mlundy57]

I would need a switch that did not degrade or color the sound in any way. I will he e way too much time and money in speakers and amps to put something in the pathway that degrades the sound in any way.

Two sets of high end speakers are totally out of the question both in terms of cost and space limitations. However a small pair of cheap speakers which function only as a load for the unused amp might be doable. Better yet would be a small box with binding posts connected to a load circuit, no actual drivers (provided there is such a thing). Just plug the non playing speaker cables into the box and the amp would be protected.

Is such a device possible?

Mike

[Captainhemo]

You could use something like this and rig it up   Mike
http://www.parts-express.com/8-ohm-200w-non-inductive-dummy-load-resistor--019-030

I've read about guys using such things,  you also see it in   some tube amp manuals " make sure at least a dummy load is connected"   etc etc

-jay

[WGH]

Van Alstine Switch Box
http://www.avahifi.com/

The ABX Switch allows seamless switching of up to two preamplifiers, two power amplifiers, and three sets of speakers either with or without subwoofers.

[Skiman]

Why don't you just use the stereo tube amp in place of your AVR's front left and right as the power for the main front speakers for both 2.1 and 5.1?. Not possible if your AVR doesn't have preouts, however (one of the advantages of separates). Of course, you'll have to balance the signals for all channels in surround mode, but that must be done even if just using the AVR.

[avahifi]

If you connect two power amplifiers to one set of speakers at the same time you likely will blow up one or both of the power amps, and depending upon the failure mode, you can fry the speakers too.

The problem is that each power amp sees the very low output impedance of the other amp as part of the load in addition to the speaker load and this looks like a near dead short to each amplifier..

DON'T DO THIS!!

Of course the AVA switch box allows you to do this safely and easily.  It is $999 and is a very useful tool for audiophiles interested in finding the best system combination.

We will be happy to e-mail you the complete user manual for the AVA ABX box if you simply request it.

Frank Van Alstine   avahifi@comcast.net

[ricardojoa]

Wow,
didnt know Frank got a switch box and it has remote control!
Frank, do you mind to elaborate on the volume level matching? Actually, can the volume work as a attenuator?
For example, one source to be louder or quieter then the other source. And what is maximum level can different source be differ?
Reason for this, one of my Tube preamp has a hum caused by high gain amps, so im believe by reducing the gain, the hum will diminish.

[BradJudy]

You could use something like this and rig it up   Mike
http://www.parts-express.com/8-ohm-200w-non-inductive-dummy-load-resistor--019-030

One could even go as far as searching AC and find this thread: http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=49984.0

I built one a while back that contained both dummy loads (for tube amps) and switched both legs (for class D amps/Tripath ground issues).  It used a wired remote, and could be used as a speaker switcher instead (just ends up connecting the inactive speaker to the dummy load).  The schematic is in the thread as well as notes on the parts used.

[mlundy57]

Why don't you just use the stereo tube amp in place of your AVR's front left and right as the power for the main front speakers for both 2.1 and 5.1?. Not possible if your AVR doesn't have preouts, however (one of the advantages of separates). Of course, you'll have to balance the signals for all channels in surround mode, but that must be done even if just using the AVR.

Skiman,

For music listening I prefer the sound from my OPPO 103's analog outputs to that from the analog outputs from my AVR. Currently I am running both into the stereo tube amp since it has an integrated preamp with switching capability. However, it only has 5wpc. The amp is currently driving a pair of N1X's (85dB sensitivity). 5wpc is below the minimum 8wpc recommended for these speakers.   

This little amp actually does a respectable job at moderate to low listening levels but for higher levels (and movies) I have to drive it closer to full power than I am comfortable with. My plan is to get a pair of 25wpc monoblocks which should solve the power problem but then I will lose the switching capability for the music/HT system. 

The ABX switch is an option as is getting a separate linestage preamp similar to the one in the little integrated amp. This particular preamp has the advantage of stereo subwoofer outputs.

For right now I was hoping for a cost effective (OK, cheap) alternative and to avoid blowing anything up. You all provided both.  I will not connect two amps to a single pair of speakers and for the time being I have dug out an old pair of satellite speakers from the closet and will switch the speaker cables back and forth as needed.

Mike

[Early B.]

I would just buy another set of speakers and totally separate the 2 channel setup from the HT setup. Safest way to go. Least compromise sound wise.

Eventually, you'll likely travel down this road. For years, I tried to integrate HT and 2-channel, and it doesn't work, mainly because the typical HT system sucks for 2-channel listening.

(Yeah, that's right -- I just said out loud what most of you guys were thinking.)
 

[Skiman]

Once you get higher powered monoblocks, you could send the multi-channel audio (and video) via HDMI (if your AVR has an HDMI input, of course) for movies, and use the stereo analogue outs from your Oppo to your stereo preamp. This is what I do with my Oppo 105, though my Emotiva XPR-1s have input switching capability.

[mlundy57]

Once you get higher powered monoblocks, you could send the multi-channel audio (and video) via HDMI (if your AVR has an HDMI input, of course) for movies, and use the stereo analogue outs from your Oppo to your stereo preamp. This is what I do with my Oppo 105, though my Emotiva XPR-1s have input switching capability.

The switching is the key. If I didn't need it I could come straight off the 103's analog outputs into the monoblocks.

Later on I will probably buy the linestage preamp with the stereo sub outputs.

Mike

[mlundy57]

Eventually, you'll likely travel down this road. For years, I tried to integrate HT and 2-channel, and it doesn't work, mainly because the typical HT system sucks for 2-channel listening.

(Yeah, that's right -- I just said out loud what most of you guys were thinking.)
 

That's why I'm building my system for music first and HT second. The philosophy is that what is killer for music will also be at least exceptionally good for HT.

For music my goal is a 2.2 channel system with stereo servo subs. For HT I would build matching center and surround speakers. That way I would not need two sets of main speakers. To keep the front balanced for HT I would need a third matching monoblock for the center channel. The switch would be needed so that when listening to music the OPPO's outputs are feeding the monoblocks but when watching movies the AVR's analog outputs are feeding monoblocks. The AVR would feed the surround channels and LFE sub directly.

That's the plan anyway.

Mike

[Captainhemo]

I must be missing something regarding the  need for  "stereo sub output" .....
Can't you just use a regular variable pre out  for stereo subs ?   Left  to  the left   sub, right to the right sub ? 

Mike, I was going to ask  how you'd been enjoying your  new tube amp but  you are obviously liking it.   Have you  tried it with the N3's yet,  just wondering as I know the sensitivity is quite a bit higher   ( I think 90/91 db w/m).  I realize you have the N3's in a much larger room so it may  not make a  big difference , still curious to know how they sound being driven off the tube amp.

-jay

[mlundy57]

I must be missing something regarding the  need for  "stereo sub output" .....
Can't you just use a regular variable pre out  for stereo subs ?   Left  to  the left   sub, right to the right sub ? 

Mike, I was going to ask  how you'd been enjoying your  new tube amp but  you are obviously liking it.   Have you  tried it with the N3's yet,  just wondering as I know the sensitivity is quite a bit higher   ( I think 90/91 db w/m).  I realize you have the N3's in a much larger room so it may  not make a  big difference , still curious to know how they sound being driven off the tube amp.

-jay

Jay,

I could do that if either the OPPO or the AVR preamps had had two full range outputs for each of the left and right main channels.

That's what the stereo sub outputs on the linestage preamp are, a second pair of full range left and right outputs. That way you can send one set of signals for each channel to a power amp and if you had two subs you could set one up for each channel.

The only way I will get to hear the N3's with the tube amp is if either I finagle a day off sometime when my wife is at work (unlikely) or she goes out of town by herself. She may be going out of town for a day at the end of June so I might get my chance then.

Mike