Is there a way to switch one set of speakers between two sound systems?


This may seem nutty at first, but it's been suggested as an unorthodox solution to a tricky configuration problem.  Before dismissing it out of hand, I thought it'd be worth asking for constructive feedback on Audiogon.

Is there any way to switch a single set of speakers between two different amplifiers without compromising sonics?  Switching would be done often, so the mechanism would have to be easy -- preferably with a remote or the twist of a dial or even done automatically by sensing input signals, and definitely not involving moving cables.

If this is confusing, here's a simplified example: A listening room contains two systems, one solid-state, one with tubed components.  A single stereo speaker system has only one set of inputs.  Is there any product or configuration method that would like the speakers to seamlessly reproduce signals generated by either system.  Since the two amps would never be playing simultaneously, the speakers might merely play any signal that reaches them, like MartinLogan subs, which  automatically play any signal received at any of their three inputs.

I understand that a “simple” 2-to-1 junction box would not be so simple in an audiophile environment, especially when routing amplified signals from components that might have greatly different output-stage characteristics. 

Any ideas?

cundare2

The reasons why my research is leading me to believe that my original idea wouldn't have been a good fit are:

i) We’d be switching as many as several times a day. That’s a lot of wear and tear on connectors and cable if manually plugging & unplugging each time (to say nothing of accessibility to the rear of components mounted in a rack)

ii) Much of the switching would be done by family members when I'm not around, some of whom are not as careful as I’d like

iii) If I did go with a tube amp, manually unplugging cables would just be too  risky.  Too much chance of a cable switch being done wrong, resulting in tube gear operating without load. Pow, thousands of dollars of sophisticated gear back to the factory

iv) I’ve found only a few switching boxes that are ostensibly audiophile-grade, and I think all of them -- Van Alstine, Luxman, Adcom, etc., are no longer actively marketed or supported in the U.S. The inexpensive boxes on Amazon -- as well as DIY projects -- are too scary. Like some of you, I might luck out & pick one that works. But there’s just too much risk of dead time between switch positions, pickup noise, sound-altering connectors & internal cabling, or even a fatal manufacturing defect. Don’t laugh about that last concern. 4 or 5 years ago, I bought some inexpensive Pangea speaker cables -- something like $100-200 for 2 meters -- on Amazon. When I plugged them in, no bass. I at first thought that they just needed to be broken in, but it took only another minute of listening to realize that they had been wired out of phase. If something that obvious can slip through the cracks of an off-brand product, even if that product is marketed as "audiophile-friendly," a cold solder joint is hardly out of the question.

I’ve spent so much time, effort, and money carefully selecting each component in my system, all of this falls into the category of "the odds are against it, but the stakes are high." So I’m gonna have to abandon the idea.  I'm glad I posted the question in this forum before just barrelling ahead.

The good news is that I’m discovering that a few higher-end integrateds offer functionality that lets me accomplish the same goal that the two-amp-switching solution was intended to. There are other ways to automatically switch signal paths without having two power amplifiers physically connected to the same speakers.

So even though I wound up deciding that what I wanted to do was not the best solution for my specific set-up, I'm far from dead in the water. And the opportunity to discuss this at length with so many knowlegable peers here was a valuable part of my investigation. Thanks, everybody!

I use this device to be able to alternate between a Lyngdorf TDAI-3400 and a Whammerdyne DGA-1 feeding a pair of Spatial X5s. It is a quality product:

 

https://dodocus.de/UBox3.html

 

You'll need to translate from German to English. I had no problem with the purchase about 3 years ago.

This could be a good option. I currently use for 2 phono stages. But can also work for switching speakers. It is not powered. Sound is amazing

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KDQXITG?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

Good luck. 

Could be worse,  as I also switch my two SVS Ultra 13 subs between my two pre amps when I switch my amps between my speakers 

I own the Beresford TC-7220 MkIII and cannot detect a difference in sound when going through the box or directly into the speakers. I have a highly resolved enough system that I can hear the differences that cables make, but this box does not injure the sound that I can hear.