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How to hook up 1 pair speakers to 5 amps

D.E.K

D.E.K

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Hello;

I have a Pioneer SA-9500 II, SA-8500 II, SA-7700, SA-6800 and an SX-950 and I am looking for a switch box type of device that will enable me to input all 5 amps and one speaker output to my HPM-100's. I would like to simply switch between amplifiers. You know how it is, sometimes I like to listen to SX-950 (not very often for I am not much fussy on the sound quality compared to SA's) sometimes 8500 II and sometimes the little fella SA-6800. But it is a pain in the neck to unhook the speakers and the input cables and re-hook them into the other amp everytime. With the switch box I am talking about, I will be able to switch between the amplifiers with the push of a button. Something like an Audio/Video selector that switches between a VCR and a DVD Player (or Multiple DVD Players) if such a thing exists. Any ideas? :scratch2:

Cheers;
Des
 
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I'd wire up a 5 position rotary switch to the speaker cables as opposed to a push-button system to be sure only one amp can be engaged at a time. Don't your components have to be switched from amp to amp also?
 
FredC said:
I'd wire up a 5 position rotary switch to the speaker cables as opposed to a push-button system to be sure only one amp can be engaged at a time. Don't your components have to be switched from amp to amp also?
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I have an RCA splitter so I can run my CD to two separate amps....5 amps....not sure how to accomplish that without some fabrication
 
dirkmc3 said:
I have an RCA splitter so I can run my CD to two separate amps....5 amps....not sure how to accomplish that without some fabrication
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RCA and radioshack have pushbutton splitters that will let you run multiple inputs to one output, couldn't you simply reverse it?
 
There are some older switchboxes floating around othe there that were made for this. They were used in A/V stores to demo the equipment.. that is about the only way I would do it. You know you won't be risking amps getting into each other, and they were built correctly, so you know you aren't injecting more noise.
 
I'd use stacking bananna plugs. Run a pigtail from the back of each amp to an accessible location to a set of plugs. Then put the same plugs on the amp side of the speaker cable.
 
Those input selectors are built for low current. Sounds like a disaster to me.

There are proper speaker selectors you can find on Ebay. However, you will need a model that will not allow two connections to be made at the same time. Most will allow multiple connections.

Maybe there is some military-surplus multiple-connection rotary switch? ???.

I think I'd stick with banana plugs.
 
jocko_nc said:
I think I'd stick with banana plugs.
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Think Lily Tomlin:

switchboard.jpg
 
jocko_nc said:
Those input selectors are built for low current. Sounds like a disaster to me.
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The passive ones aren't anything but glorified Y connectors. No electronics inside. Safe to use but I wouldn't trust the ability to depress 2 buttons at once, so rotary is the safe way to go.

jocko_nc said:
Maybe there is some military-surplus multiple-connection rotary switch? ???.
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Radio Shack has everything you need to build one. Project box.. Speaker Terminals... The switch is all of $3 http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062536&cp=&sr=1&origkw=rotary+switch&kw=rotary+switch&parentPage=search
 
Need 4 poles for stereo, and 300ma isn't going to get it for the speakers.

There are commercial units available, but a patch bay seems an easier solution.

It's going to be a mess of wires, in any case.... :yes:
 
Warning, Will Robinson!!

If you rig a home-made switch to do this remember that many amps, if run with no load, WILL GO UP IN SMOKE and FLAMES..

Therefore, you may want to carefully consider any action before causing a catastrophic fault with some or all of your amps..
 
Aage said:
If you rig a home-made switch to do this remember that many amps, if run with no load, WILL GO UP IN SMOKE and FLAMES..

Therefore, you may want to carefully consider any action before causing a catastrophic fault with some or all of your amps..
Click to expand...

What kind of amps wouldn't survive operation without a load? I would say that all commercial Class AB amps will happily operate without a load and I am almost certain class A amps will also (can't be sure as I've neve owned or used one).
 
I've been mulling over this very problem for quite awhile, even threw it up here once for suggestions. I was concerned about the no-load problem as several of my receivers specifically state not to run them without speakers hooked up. Most of my Sansui receivers have a position on the speaker selecter switch for "off". I'm assuming that if I turned this switch to the off position it must somehow protect the circuitry from not having a load? My thought was to use one of the multiple out switches backwards but could never get a definitive answer whether or not there would be any possible feedback by using it backwards. Russound used to make some mechanical switching devices which would probably be safe but all their new stuff is electronic and very expensive. I sort of settled on the rotary switch idea but never went through with it as I was afraid I'd forget about the "off" positioning of the speaker switch on the receiver I was leaving. I'm totally unfamiliar with electronics but was wondering how a mixing board that a band uses works? Could you use an old one to hook receivers to and "mix" their contribution to the speakers? I currently have speakers all over the room and have different receivers dedicated to each set. This is truly unsatisfying as I'd like to be able to compare components using common speakers so I could hear the differences between say, my Sansui 9090 and my Marantz 2285. Not that I'd be able to tell the difference probably, but I'd like to try.
 
Relays are the safe answer.

A rotary switch controls the low-voltage windings, selecting one of five pairs of DPDT contacts. In the "Off" position, the NC contacts get bridged with an 8- or 16-Ohm resistor, so all amps have loads at all times.

Trick: The same switch could control input switching concurrently.... :yes:
 
I guess I'm just dense, but I have no idea what you just explained. I believe I understand that a rotary switch switches all 4 speaker leads at once if properly set up but I'm at a loss as to the rest of your reply. When you mention a "trick" which switch are you referring to?
 
rjohn said:
Russound used to make some mechanical switching devices which would probably be safe but all their new stuff is electronic and very expensive.
Click to expand...

Put together a daily ebay search using "Russound switch" as your search terms.

It took me a while, but I have a 2 amp, 3 speaker switch that is in my system now. Niles Audio may also have something.

Still, just use the stacking nanner plugs.

:banana::banana:
:banana::banana:
 
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