2. home-theater
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An odd idea

Got a question for all of you . . . .

I've been battling with the problem of optimizing 2-channel performance without compromising the coherence of my HT setup. I only have one room which is usuable for A/V gear, and it's loaded to the gills with speakers for HT.

I'd like to upgrade my amplification for 2-channel, but don't want to have to buy SEVEN channels of "good stuff," since that's a healthy chunk of cash and I'm happy with the HT performance of my Rotel gear.

So here's the question -- anybody ever tried hooking up one set of speakers to two different amplifiers? I'm thinking of a modified shotgun biwire cable, run backwards -- single end to the speaker, split ends to two different amps. Obviously you'd have to make sure you NEVER had both of the amps turned on at the same time . . . .

It seems to me that this would be preferable to using a switcher box, because that would put an additional "thing" in the signal path, where the split speaker cables would not.

Of course, my understanding of electronics would fit into a Vibrapod, so there might very well be a screamingly obvious reason why this would be a disaster in the making . . . .

Would this work? If it did, it would allow the use of completely different amps for 2-channel and HT without having to worry about the interaction of one with another, same for preamps.

I'd really appreciate any feedback anyone had here . . . .

Thanks!

Pat
tsrart

Showing 7 responses by tsrart

tsrart OP
79 posts
 
The only problem with using the 2-channel in the HT setup is that I've gone to significant lengths to ensure that my HT setup is as cohesive as possible -- speakers with identical drivers all the way around, and identical amplification (at least in terms of sonic signature), and if I throw something different into the mix, the main L and R speakers are going to SOUND different than the center, rears, and sides, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

I'm assuming that a $2000+ 2-channel amp (Bryston, Aragon, McCormack, etc.) is going to have a very different signature from my $1200 Rotel 5-channel . . . . for the price difference, it had better! ;-0)

Then again, maybe the difference wouldn't be that horrific. Unfortunately, I live in the sticks, and there are NO, repeat NO high-end dealers around here, so I don't have the opportunity to borrow something to audition and see how the mix sounds . . . .
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Sugarbrie --

That was my second choice idea . . . . you don't think I'd eventually cause wear damage to the speaker terminals through the repeated plugging and unplugging?
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
One nice thing, I guess, is that with using two sets of speaker cables as an option, I can always go ahead and try the amp in the HT system, and then use the cable swapping maneuver if I'm not happy with the cohesion.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Pat
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Prpixel --

Ouch! Remember that Vibrapod worth of electronics knowledge I mentioned earlier? THANKS for the warning . . . I will relegate that idea to the same dustbin as Communism -- "It SOUNDS like a good idea, but . . . ."

Mrpoindexter --

Thanks for the input -- like you, buying 8 channels worth of Aragon or McCormack isn't really an option, so it's good to hear from someone else who has successfully integrated "good" with "really good" and not had any issues.

Thanks again to all!
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Again, thanks to all for the suggestions!

Tok2000, you make a good point . . . . I guess the speakers are the key, moreso than the amplification.

Subaruguru, thanks for the warning!

Perkadin, interesting suggestions! My speakers are already set up as you suggest -- about 2 feet out from the TV (any farther and they are too close to the side walls) and about a foot in front of the TV. I hadn't considered the CD quality issue, though . . . . and my system is definitely not lacking in power or dynamics. I've thought some about the tube CD player idea, too.

I think what I'm going to do is finish all the tweaks I can with the existing hardware -- install the 2-channel passive preamp, upgrade the 2-channel path cables from Audio Ones to Audio Twos, upgrade the power cables on both the 9000ES and the Rotel 985, and apply some isolation/damping treatments to both -- and try to isolate what I feel are the system's shortcomings in a little more detail.

I also want to play around a little with some room treatments -- I don't know much about that, but I figure that there's no shortage of places on the web to learn.

THEN, if I decide the new amp is a necessity, I'll pick one based on what I want for 2-channel, without worrying too much about HT integration, since I know that a) it should work OK, and b) I can always go with seperate speaker cables if it doesn't.

Again, thanks much to all!

Pat
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Ah, a projector. I'd like to have a projector . . . . I'd like a pony, too. Unfortunately, they both have about the same likelihood of working out in my living room. Too much light for the projector, I fear (and too much rented carpeting for the pony). ;-0)

Thanks for the suggestion, though -- I'd wondered idly about the feasibility of retractable screens, so it's nice to know that they work.

And thanks for the info on using umatched speakers and amps -- now I'm not so paranoid about trying a partial upgrade.

Thanks again to all!

Pat
tsrart OP
79 posts
 
Blw --

I live in a rented house, so cutting holes in things isn't an option . . . . can I get a projector and screen that I could mount without doing major surgery to the ceiling? Screws and bolts in the ceiling are no problem.
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