Hook up question: Can this be done safely?

[statman122]

I have a Marantz 16b amp using a 2265 receiver as the pre. Could I have one pair of speakers hooked up to the amp and run a second set out of the 2265? Or would this "confuse" the 2265 as it would be acting as a pre and a secondary amp (I'm thinking it wouldn't be able to handle the load of being the pre for both itself and the 16b)
thanks
Steve

 

[ev13wt]

Although I am a 2 speakers only guy, if you're going from the pre to the amp via cinch, why should it be a problem?

 

[cademan]

That will work no problem! There's really no load issues. Just use a pair of "Y" adaptors connected to the pre-out and main-in on the 2265, and just run a pair of RCA's from the "Y's" to the power amp.

Your 2265 is (I assume) your main control. The only issue that comes to mind, is either the 16B will be louder, or the 2265 will be louder. If the 16B has level controls, you can adjust them to equal the 2265, or vise/versa. It also depends on the wattage of each amplifier, and how efficient both sets of speakers are.

 

[Suzuki]

IMO, the mixed input impedance of the amps is still high enough for the pre to drive both of them at a time in a safe manner..

 

[roughlight]

Hook it up it will work. This is what the pre-out on the receiver is for.
Don't need a Y cable. You have volume control on both receiver and amp so efficiency isn't a problem either.

If you use both speaker sets in same room speakers on receiver should be in-phase with speakers on amp.

This should be a nice sounding system as distortion effects which are different for both speaker sets will not add but the signal does.

 

[whoaru99]

This should be a nice sounding system as distortion effects which are different for both speaker sets will not add but the signal does.

You're going to get what ever comes out of both pair of speakers including resultant peaks, nulls, and distotion.

 

[statman122]

Hook it up it will work. This is what the pre-out on the receiver is for.
Don't need a Y cable. You have volume control on both receiver and amp so efficiency isn't a problem either.

If you use both speaker sets in same room speakers on receiver should be in-phase with speakers on amp.

This should be a nice sounding system as distortion effects which are different for both speaker sets will not add but the signal does.

Thanks for all the advice. What does "in phase" mean and how do I correct it if it isn't in phase?

 

[whoaru99]

Generically, in phase means the (+) and (-) connections from the receiver and amp are all connected properly to the (+) and (-) on the speakers. In practice, if the speakers are stacked or co-located typically that's going to work. However, if the speakers are placed at different locations around the room, it could be that you'd get better sound by having some of the connections reversed so the "waves" sum at your listening position rather than cancel.

 

[statman122]

Generically, in phase means the (+) and (-) connections from the receiver and amp are all connected properly to the (+) and (-) on the speakers. In practice, if the speakers are stacked or co-located typically that's going to work. However, if the speakers are placed at different locations around the room, it could be that you'd get better sound by having some of the connections reversed so the "waves" sum at your listening position rather than cancel.

Thanks
Im thinking of putting the 810's on the floor and stack the 950's on top of them, my "theory" is that I'll get better bass while at the same time taking advantage of the smooth mid to high of the Bostons
I'll repost when I get it done, still waiting on the 16B!

 

[cademan]

Don't need a Y cable. You have volume control on both receiver and amp so efficiency isn't a problem either.

This would only be true if the receiver has a switch and doesn't need the jumpers from pre-out to main-in!

I have to use the "Y" adaptor's with my Pioneer SX-1010, but not necessary with my Kenwood KA-8004.