Use Two Amplifiers With One Set of Speakers
Using two amplifiers with one set of speakers requires the installation of a simple A/B switch available at electronics stores. The slide on the switch moves between the A and B positions to determine which amp will provide power to the speaker pair. The connections to a speaker switch are virtually identical to the hookups for the speakers themselves. The only difference is that two extra pairs of speaker wires are required to make the connection.
Audiophiles often prefer the warmer sound of an older, tube-style amplifier for listening to music, especially classical, although a separate amplifier with electronic processing for Surround Sound signals might be preferred for listening to movies in a home theater. If space and speakers are at a premium, using two amps to drive one pair of speakers solves this dilemma.
Instructions
1. Cut three pairs of speaker wires. Two pairs should be long enough to extend from the amplifiers to the AB/Switch. The remaining pair should be long enough to reach from the switch to each speaker.
2. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from the ends of the wires.
3. Connect one pair of speaker wires to the back of each amplifier by raising the clip on the speaker posts to reveal a hole for inserting each wire. Take care not to cross the connections; the red wire connects to the red terminal on the amplifiers and the other wire connects to the black terminal.
4. Connect the wires from the first amplifier to the "A" terminals on the back of the A/B switch.
5. Connect the wires from the second amplifier to the "B" terminals on the switch.
6. Attach the last pair of wires to the "Speaker Out" terminals on the A/B switch, then connect the other ends of each wire to a speaker, again being careful to connect red to red and black to black.
7. Turn on the amplifiers and slide the A/B switch back and forth to use the speakers with the amplifier of your choice.
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