I want ot A/B pre-amps- how?

[drummergrl]

What kind of switch can be used to set up 2 preamps into one amp to compare back and forth?

 

[drummergrl]

Oh shoot, anyone know how I can edit the title so i can fix my typo? Or can a moderator fix it: Change 'ot' to 'to' please?

 

[Gazdatronik]

Could be as easy as running it through a receiver with 2 auxiliary or 2 tape inputs, and running the tape out out to the amp.
Faster than building or buying a source switch.

 

[2chman]

Don't recommend A/B preamps. You need to listen for a few days minimum to allow your ears to get accustom to the sound that switch out the other pre for the same amount of time than switch back to hear the differences. Trust me been their done that. Your ears can not evaluate the differences by a/b ing them. Your ears can be fooled by volume differences and source impedence issues but to really judge them you must take some time. Sorry if that's not the answer you wanted but trust me if you do it right you will make better desisions.

 

[Sriskie]

I would think a simple input selector would work. I use a couple hooked up backwards to use one cd player or tape deck with up to three amps. They're just cheap Rat Shack units but work well.

 

[Danddd]

I agree with 2chman. For preamps it's best to listen for a while. That's what I did for my system years ago. You'll hear the differences.

 

[drummergrl]

I'll do both, some serious listening to either for a few days and then a/bing.

Sriskie you say, "I use a couple hooked up backwards to use one cd player or tape deck with up to three amps."
Can someone talk me through exactly how I hook up the 2 pres?

 

[bobaloniny]

Back of the box you will see one set rcas marked out, 3 sets marked input. Connect one pre to one of the 3, and one to another of the three. Connect out to the power amp.

 

[drummergrl]

Back of the box you will see one set rcas marked out, 3 sets marked input. Connect one pre to one of the 3, and one to another of the three. Connect out to the power amp.

Simple. I wanted to be sure. Thanks.

 

[leesonic]

Or make your own. All you need is two (or more) 4PDT switches. That way, it will switch four poles : input L, input R, output L, output R, all at once.

Lee.

 

[Sriskie]

For what I'm doing, I connect the "out" to the cd player and the "in"s to the amps.

 

[drummergrl]

So when you connect the preamp to an amp in a normal fashion you use the preamp out. It is alright to use the inputs in a switch selector to connect 2 preamps?

 

[El Pee]

Niles Audio makes something called an 'amplifier selector switch,' but is a basic A/B switch as above... I used it for years to "tell" my amp to listen to my 2-channel, analog pre amp, or to be the front channels for a 5.1 home theater system... great piece of equipment.

 

[drummergrl]

Niles Audio makes something called an 'amplifier selector switch,' but is a basic A/B switch as above... I used it for years to "tell" my amp to listen to my 2-channel, analog pre amp, or to be the front channels for a 5.1 home theater system... great piece of equipment.

This is the same as the Radio Shack input selector you're saying?

 

[El Pee]

This is the same as the Radio Shack input selector you're saying?

It does the same thing. The Niles Audio is metal instead of plastic and has a ground post on the back if you need to use it for a TT or something, but A/B switches all do the same thing no matter what they're called... 2 inputs, 1 output.

 

[Bostown]

So when you connect the preamp to an amp in a normal fashion you use the preamp out. It is alright to use the inputs in a switch selector to connect 2 preamps?

Yes, preamp line OUT L/R to line in L/R (#1) on the switch , for your A unit, then preamp Line OUT L/R to line in (#2 ) L/R for your B unit. Then OUT L/R from the switch to L/R IN on your power amp.

 

[drummergrl]

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I didn't do something wrong and f up some nice gear.