2. amps-preamps
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Do I need to use a speaker selector?

I have two audio systems. My question is directed to my secondary system, which consists of a pair of B&W 805 speakers (8 ohm, nominal) and a "whole-house" speaker system comprised of 7 pairs of speakers, each connected to a Niles Impedence Magnifying Volume control. The whole-house speaker system is supposed to present an 8 ohm load to the amplifier. I am purchasing a PS Audio GCA 250 to drive the B&Ws and the whole-house system. Here's the question: do I need to use a speaker selector box, or can I hook the B&Ws and the whole-house speaker wires directly to the amp? If I connect direct to the amp, the load it will see may go as low as 4 ohm, nominal. PS Audio claims that the GCA 250 can handle a load with impedence less than 1.5. Am I missing something, or can I skip the speaker selector box and wire directly to the amp? Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
tin_ears

Showing 2 responses by bignerd100

bignerd100
515 posts
 
Why not buy a cheaper seprate amplifier for the distributed audio. Connecting a string of speakers and the B&W's to a PS with or without the speaker selector box is like using a BMW to do farm work.

For distributed audio you could use the new Parasound 275 amplifier which has a 20 and 40 Hz filter, A&B speaker outputs, and a low impedance switch. This amplifier is really designed to do what you want it to. A cheaper solution would be one of the AudioSource amps. I use them in lots of installations for background music because they are relatively inexspensive and have features that are useful in multi zone aplications.

My 2 cents.
bignerd100
515 posts
 
Not knocking your B&W's. The introduction of either a selector box or direct connection of the distributed audio to the PS will have a deleterious effect on teh sound comeing from the B&W's.
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