Stereo Source > Mono Amp
- Thread starter ozmoid
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mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
It will work. IMNSHO it will work just fine. There are those that disagree.
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
It is very unlikely that it will destroy anything. Normally I would qualify that with something about back-emf (you're basically connecting the left channel to the right channel -- I mean, you wouldn't do that on an amplifier, would you?), but this is...a DAC? Or a pre? It's not a tubed phono stage or something with a really sensitive output transformer? Other than those last two, you're probably fine.
A problem you may run into is with modern recordings, sometimes they put the same signal out of phase in both channels to widen the separation (they probably used other tricks as well, such as a microscopic delay), in which case they will cancel each other out. That will make the music sound odd, but will otherwise be fine.
A problem you may run into is with modern recordings, sometimes they put the same signal out of phase in both channels to widen the separation (they probably used other tricks as well, such as a microscopic delay), in which case they will cancel each other out. That will make the music sound odd, but will otherwise be fine.
ozmoid
Lunatic Member
Simply a TT or CDP directly into a little Grommes 10w mono amp. I am ready to start restoring the amp (replacement pots and caps are on the way) and didn't want to damage the new work when I'm done. I have no working mono sources to use with it.Dusty Chalk said:
I was also curious if there was a schematic for a stereo>mono downconverter (?) that would rectify any issues like the phase cancellation. Maybe a pre-amp with a mono setting? From your post, it sounds as if I will be dealing with different issues based on the actual recordings used
. Won't that be fun! 
Dusty Chalk
Born-again Nihilist
It's called a mixer.ozmoid said:
Doesn't exist. The issues I mentioned are rare, so I wouldn't worry too much about it -- just warn you that mixing to mono may cause familiar stereo mixes to sound a little odd. If you try to correct for them, I suspect you will accidentally end up cancelling up any normal central sounds that are the same in both channels.
There's also a whole school of thought (for example, many of those on the sh.tv board) about mixing to mono, and what it does to the overall mix. Something about it not doing it right, and that to generate a mono master, one should remix things differently.
In the documentation for my Sunfire sub, it says that it does both L+R and L-R signals, which I don't understand. I don't know if this is only possible because he's low-pass filtering the signal, or if this is some sort of mixing technique that I am not aware of. So take my above advice with a grain of salt. (Wouldn't mind hearing from someone else who is more informed on this.)
Yup, that should work.
Yes.From your post, it sounds as if I will be dealing with different issues based on the actual recordings used
ozmoid
Lunatic Member
OK, that's what happens when a perfectly rational person tries to make things too complicated. :twak: I even use one on a near weekly basis. I have two available to me for personal use right now. I will need to find something a little smaller for permanent installation with the Grommes.Dusty Chalk said:
Right now I really feel "D'oh". :sigh:
Justen
Send Lawyers,Guns & Money
I have used one of my receivers as a pre-amp, then I found a Dynaco pre-amp. I just run my stereo in and taker mono out. Seems to work fine to me... as well as the mixer the sits 15 feet away does. But why complicate things? Let your stereo be complex, let your mono rig be a system of complete simplicity...
Justen
Send Lawyers,Guns & Money
macaltec said:
Puhleeezzz! You weren't nuthin' near normal when we met! I'll take a wild guess that when we met you had at least 15 receivers and 20 pairs of speakers...
Oz, if my humble system started you down this path I either apologize or say congratulations! I think I'd get rid of my one remaining stereo rig before I'd ever consider getting rid of the mono rig...
wa2ise
Super Member
I've made my own Y adaptor cables with internal 10K resistors (one per "input") as a summing mixer inside the "output" jack. Figured that this will not cause problems with low impedance line driver circuits in DVD or CD players. Each line driver would see essentially 20K to the other low impedance source. I used tiny leaded 1/10 watt resistors inside a Switchcraft RCA connector shell. Tape or heat shrink would prevent shorts.
ozmoid
Lunatic Member
:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:macaltec said:
Justen, in all seriousness, I did not set out to do a mono system right now, stuff just kind of "showed up" locally, and I ended up with some decent gear for really cheap, needing a little TLC. I know that the EV + the University driver will be only a pale refelction of your Altec, but it's a start.
I'll probably never forget the moment Lucinda William's voice came pouring out of that Altec horn - every hair on my arms and head stood straight out (actually, it kind of looks like that all the time on my head). An illuminating audio experience for a newbie.
Justen
Send Lawyers,Guns & Money
macaltec said:
Well, thanks for the compliments guys, but I don't view it as very fancy, other than the sources and changing the pre-amp it is exactly as Charlie built it in 1959- I'm not sure I ever even changed the speaker wire It is almost zen-like in simplicty! The Heathkit amp and Altec just work really nicely together....I'm a big fan of the Keep It Simple Stupid concept, mostly because, well, I'm kind of stupid....
Oz, I'm looking forward to hearing yours once it is all assembled. I like sound of EV's quite a bit, I suspect it will raise the hair on your head just fine! My setup just kind of fell into my life as well, now it is one of the last things that would ever leave. I hope yours turns out the same for you!
