Amplifier Selector Switch

[ozfifer]

Hello everyone,

I have a question im hoping the brains trust can help me with.

 

My current set up is Anthem HT receiver & Accuphase E270 amp paired with Focal Aria 936 speakers.

 

I currently use the front Focals for both HT and listening to records which means plugging and unplugging each time.

 

Other than the QED switcher do any of you know any other good quality brands out there?

 

cheers Tom

 

 

Edited November 29, 2021 by ozfifer
title change

[audiofeline]

This article might help you understand the different technologies to help guide your purchase

https://geoffthegreygeek.com/speaker-switch-summary/

 

It may be difficult to know the technology inside the switchbox before you buy, apart from the price.  The technology in the cheap ones is only a few dollars, I'm sure that there are some massive profit margins in some of these boxes.

 

Edited November 28, 2021 by audiofeline

[ozfifer]

2 hours ago, audiofeline said:

This article might help you understand the different technologies to help guide your purchase

https://geoffthegreygeek.com/speaker-switch-summary/

 

It may be difficult to know the technology inside the switchbox before you buy, apart from the price.  The technology in the cheap ones is only a few dollars, I'm sure that there are some massive profit margins in some of these boxes.

 

thank you will have a read

 

[audiofeline]

I've been thinking about this more, and reading the article I previously linked (and other articles linked within it). The article seems to be discussing speaker selector switches that allow for more than one pair of speakers to be used - either simultaneously or independently.

 

Re-reading your original post, it seems that you are really asking about an amplifier switch - that will select one of two amplifiers that will feed the same speaker pair.  I'm wondering if all you need is a quality 2pole 2position switch to route the chosen amp signal to the output connected to your speakers.  Because this is simply routing the signal, from my limited electronics knowledge, I would not expect that any resistors etc. would be needed.  It would be easy to make yourself.   But I will defer this idea to those with more extensive audio electronics knoweldge than I have. 

 

[ozfifer]

53 minutes ago, audiofeline said:

I've been thinking about this more, and reading the article I previously linked (and other articles linked within it). The article seems to be discussing speaker selector switches that allow for more than one pair of speakers to be used - either simultaneously or independently.

 

Re-reading your original post, it seems that you are really asking about an amplifier switch - that will select one of two amplifiers that will feed the same speaker pair.  I'm wondering if all you need is a quality 2pole 2position switch to route the chosen amp signal to the output connected to your speakers.  Because this is simply routing the signal, from my limited electronics knowledge, I would not expect that any resistors etc. would be needed.  It would be easy to make yourself.   But I will defer this idea to those with more extensive audio electronics knoweldge than I have. 

 

yes just relised that also when i read the article. my title in the post is a it misleading. I will try alter it.

Have come across this one which may do the job. http://www.homehifi.co.uk/S/tc-7220mk3.htm

 

[Tonyw111]

You need an amplifier switch. I bought the Speciality AV SP 71 from Amazon US for 

$85 aud.

I use my home theatre front speakers for 2 channel supplied from a Naim 82 pre and 180 amp.  7.1 channel supplied from Anthem 710 AVR. The front speakers are Linn Ninkas. Worked perfectly with no degrading of the sound.

https://www.amazon.com/Amplifier-Receiver-Speakers-Selector-Switcher/dp/B0796KGVXT

[ozfifer]

50 minutes ago, Tonyw111 said:

You need an amplifier switch. I bought the Speciality AV SP 71 from Amazon US for 

$85 aud.

I use my home theatre front speakers for 2 channel supplied from a Naim 82 pre and 180 amp.  7.1 channel supplied from Anthem 710 AVR. The front speakers are Linn Ninkas. Worked perfectly with no degrading of the sound.

https://www.amazon.com/Amplifier-Receiver-Speakers-Selector-Switcher/dp/B0796KGVXT

thanks for the link

[doogie44]

I am using the Schiit SYS as an amplifier switch; in from the preamp and out to two (possible) amplifiers by switch selection. Saves a lot of time and effort (especially wear & tear on the I/C RCAs) with no degradation of SQ as far as I can tell.

[BioBrian]

On 27/11/2021 at 10:09 PM, ozfifer said:

My current set up is Anthem HT receiver & Accuphase E270 amp paired with Focal Aria 936 speakers.

 

Have you considered switching at input level?

 

Without more detail it's only an informed guess, but I would think you can feed the "pre-outs" of the Front L & R channels from the AV receiver to a pair of inputs on the Accuphase Integrated amp. This would give you better amplification of the Front L & R for movies, and be simply a switch of inputs on the Accuphase.

[Hifiplus]

Does the Anthem have pre out?
The Accuphase appears to have a "main in" so it can be used as power amp only, then you can switch the input to the Main Input when you want to use the Anthem.

[ozfifer]

4 hours ago, BioBrian said:

 

Have you considered switching at input level?

 

Without more detail it's only an informed guess, but I would think you can feed the "pre-outs" of the Front L & R channels from the AV receiver to a pair of inputs on the Accuphase Integrated amp. This would give you better amplification of the Front L & R for movies, and be simply a switch of inputs on the Accuphase.

 

4 hours ago, Hifiplus said:

Does the Anthem have pre out?
The Accuphase appears to have a "main in" so it can be used as power amp only, then you can switch the input to the Main Input when you want to use the Anthem.

@Hifiplus @BioBrian

I like the sound of this.

Now, i am pretty clueless when it comes to this sort of thing, so are you able to describe how i  actually connect the amp/receiver together.

Do i leave the speaker cables where they are in the receiver and connect them to the 'main in' on the amp? If so what input setting would this be on the amp?

Thanks again for all the advice.

Cheers Tom

[Guest crankit]

Have been using this amp switch for few years, AV for film + 2 channel DVD concerts.

 

Price has ballooned since 

 

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/185146420817?hash=item2b1b962e51:g:ppUAAOSw1G5gZxGs

 

 

[BioBrian]

11 hours ago, ozfifer said:

Now, i am pretty clueless when it comes to this sort of thing, so are you able to describe how i  actually connect the amp/receiver together.

Do i leave the speaker cables where they are in the receiver and connect them to the 'main in' on the amp? If so what input setting would this be on the amp?

 

What I envisage is the following:

 

Leave the speaker wires to the Front L & R speakers permanently from the Accuphase amp.

 

This means no change to your ability to "play records".

 

Take a pair of RCA cables from the Front L & R "pre-out" sockets on your AVR, and connect their other ends to a different input on the Accuphase.

 

This means you won't need any speaker cables from the Front L & R outputs of the AVR, as these 2 channels will be amplified by the superior Accuphase amp.

 

Use the normal speaker cables from the AVR to do all the movie channels, like Centre, Surround L & R, and Back L & R.

 

I presume your sub(s) will be running from the "pre-out" socket(s) through an RCA cable?

 

Whatever, all you do to watch a movie is change input on the Accuphase amp.

 

Edit: I see great wisdom in  what @Hifiplus has suggested. Using just an ordinary input might mean you'd have to adjust the volume to 100% for movies, which would be dangerous  if you change inputs and leave it at that level.

 

The AVR will already have controlled the volume of the Front L & R pre-outs, so they can be cabled directly to the power amp section of the Accuphase. This input is sometimes called "HT bypass", or you could use "Tape In"? (2nd Edit: Or in the case of your Accuphase, see below - sorry, my answer was more generic).

Edited November 29, 2021 by BioBrian

[Gieseler Audio]

Hi Brian - excellent instructions 

Just one one minor detail.

The input to use on the Accuphase is called "main in" as @Hifiplus mentioned.

Then when using the Anthem AV receiver press the "main in" button on the Accuphase.

Left hand end - see photo

 

[ozfifer]

Thanks to everyone for their input. 

I think I will go with the splitter box option as I can see the other option which I prefer, as not idiot proof enough for me and the last thing I want to do is  damage my amp or speakers 

Thanks again

Tom 

[ozfifer]

Just on another note, are there any professionals out there that can make this type of splitter?

[muon*]

12 minutes ago, ozfifer said:

Just on another note, are there any professionals out there that can make this type of splitter?

Ask @andyr

[andyr]

6 minutes ago, muon* said:

Ask @andyr

 

Thanks for the heads-up, Ian but:

 

On 30/11/2021 at 1:40 PM, ozfifer said:

I think I will go with the splitter box option as I can see the other option which I prefer, as not idiot proof enough for me and the last thing I want to do is  damage my amp or speakers 

 

Tom, can you explain what type of splitter you are looking for?

 

What I have made for several people is a box to allow you to choose which of 3 line-level (ie. low-level) RCA inputs you wish to pass through to the output RCAs.

 

But from my skimming this thread ... it seems what you need is a high-level (ie. spkr-level) selector?

 

If so, I can probably make that up, too - but I'd like to understand just what it is you want.

 

Andy

 

[ozfifer]

1 minute ago, andyr said:

 

Thanks for the heads-up, Ian but:

 

 

Tom, can you explain what type of splitter you are looking for?

 

What I have made for several people is a box to allow you to choose which of 3 line-level (ie. low-level) RCA inputs you wish to pass through to the output RCAs.

 

But from my skimming this thread ... it seems what you need is a high-level (ie. spkr-level) selector?

 

If so, I can probably make that up, too - but I'd like to understand just what it is you want.

 

Andy

 

Hi Andy,

Im after a high end 'amplifier' splitter running one pair of speakers and a unit that will look nice with the other components.

cheers Tom

[MooneeBeach]

Luxman make nice speaker selector and RCA selector switch boxes.

[ozfifer]

22 minutes ago, seaninbrisbane said:

Luxman make nice speaker selector and RCA selector switch boxes.

Cheers Certainly look nice and good reviews

[MooneeBeach]

17 minutes ago, ozfifer said:

Cheers Certainly look nice and good reviews

I use the RCA selector (As-45) and the buttons have a lovely mechanism to them.

[ozfifer]

5 minutes ago, seaninbrisbane said:

I use the RCA selector (As-45) and the buttons have a lovely mechanism to them.

So you use between two different amps?

any loss in sound quality?

Edited December 3, 2021 by ozfifer

[andyr]

2 hours ago, ozfifer said:

Hi Andy,

I'm after a high end 'amplifier' splitter running one pair of speakers and a unit that will look nice with the other components.

cheers Tom

 

Aah, OK Tom.  

 

That is quite simple then.

 

All that is required is a pair of high-current Double Pole Double Throw switches so that:

• the 2 amplifiers are connected to the top & bottom switch terminals
• and the spkrs are connected to the middle terminals.

So only 1 amp at a time can go through the spkrs.

 

I would mount these switches on the front of a case - with the amp & spkr connectors on the back panel.

 

The case would be 124 wide x 170 deep x either 40 or 80 high (depending on what spkr terminals you want - either banana sockets or binding posts).

 

If it was 40mm high, it would look similar to this (except with different things on the front panel):

 

 

 

The front panel could be either black ... or silver.

 

Please PM me if what I have shown you looks attractive ... and I'll price it up.  But you need to tell me whether you want banana sockets of binding posts on the back panel.

 

Andy

 

EDIT:  BTW, the QED switcher you referenced is a different beast - this is for switching one of two pairs of spkrs onto an amp (or possibly both).

Edited December 3, 2021 by andyr