bi-amping with Tube and SS amp


Bi-amping question: 

Is it possible to use a tube amplifier to run my HT speakers without disconnecting HT SS amp? 
In other words, can I connect a tube amp to my L R channel using top binding posts and use the tube amp for music. The HT amp will be off but remain connected via bottom posts. 

zory

Showing 3 responses by mceljo

No, and this isn't bi-amping.

Bi-amping is for speakers that have two sets of binding posts AND the jumper is removed so that you are, in effect, driving two separate pairs of speakers with two amplifiers in parallel.

To do this, you need a switch that would essentially be a speaker switch run backwards.  I have my Pathos tube amplifier and my Integra HT receiver both connected to my speakers via a custom switch that I have to manually flip the switch on for each channel.  The switch has a dummy speaker load on the other side to keep tube amplifiers happy and also a resister to keep the tubes safe with a load during the switch flip.

@ei001h I am not an electrical engineer, but I wouldn't connect to amplifier together with speaker cables which is essentially what this would be doing.  I doubt amplifiers have a lot of circuit protection from this type of load.