Speaker Switches

[Samd]

Switches or pre-out?

Am very happy with newly acquired Q Acoustics 3000 series floor standers, centre and surround speakers all with Denon 2300 but am looking at Cambridge Audio CXA 60 Int Amp for stereo but it has no facility to connect to Denon. Same with a couple of others I am looking at. Anyone any knowledge on switches for A/B speakers so as to use for both stereo and AV purposes please? I am lazy and like gadgets so have been looking at the automatic switches such as Russound AB3.2 Auto A/B speaker switch.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Can't you use the zone 2 RCA outputs as inputs to the Aux inputs on the amp? If so can the Zone 2 outputs be reassigned within the receiver as the front let and front right surround channels?
If you have to run two sets of speakers why nor run a fibre optic or coaxial cable from your disc spinner directly to the Cambridge amp?

 

[Samd]

Can't you use the zone 2 RCA outputs as inputs to the Aux inputs on the amp? If so can the Zone 2 outputs be reassigned within the receiver as the front let and front right surround channels? If you have to run two sets of speakers why nor run a fibre optic or coaxial cable from your disc spinner directly to the Cambridge amp?

I reckon I'm OK from the AVR side of things with the zone2 (doubles as a pre-out) but I have been using Richer Sounds website because, at least, they have a standard way of showing the specification for all manufacturers. The bit I have been looking at for Integrated amps is as follows and most of the amps in my price range have a 'no' for this question.
Power Amp InDoes it have a power amp in connection? Designed for when using the amp connected to an AV receiver. It powers the front speakers. If the int amp does not have this connection, how would I connect the AVR please? Colour me thick!!

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

Integrated amps with dedicated AV inputs are designed such that the input from your AVR bypasses the volume knob on your integrated amp. Thus you can listen to your Motorhead CDs at neighbourHOOD annoying levels, but watching a Blu-Ray and the AVR volume control takes over.
If you connect to the Aux inputs of an amplifier without this function, all it means is that you might have to play with an extra volume knob (or remote) to get the levels to match. After a few movies you'll get to know what the settings should be by heart.

 

[Samd]

So, taking the Cambridge CXA60 Int amp, for example, with no aux inputs, do I connect to one of the 4 sets of analogue RCA inputs? That's all there is apart from toslink.

The differing sound levels with CD, online etc through the amp and DVD, BRay and Sky etc through AVR sounds a bit messy. Are switches no good as an easy alternative please? At least the switch wouldn't mess up audyssey!

 

[spiny norman]

So, taking the Cambridge CXA60 Int amp, for example, with no aux inputs, do I connect to one of the 4 sets of analogue RCA inputs? That's all there is apart from toslink.

The differing sound levels with CD, online etc through the amp and DVD, BRay and Sky etc through AVR sounds a bit messy. Are switches no good as an easy alternative please? At least the switch wouldn't mess up audyssey!

Yes, any of the four line-ins, marked A1-4, will be fine. The volume control thing isn't a major problem - you just need to remember than when playing your AVR through the amp, the amp needs to be on input A1, say, and with its volume set to 11 o'clock, for example.

 

[Benedict_Arnold]

So, taking the Cambridge CXA60 Int amp, for example, with no aux inputs, do I connect to one of the 4 sets of analogue RCA inputs? 

Yes. Any one of them will do, EXCEPT the phono inputs, which should only be used for a turntable.

The turntable signal is 1000 times fainter than from a CD player, for example, so turntable inputs often have an additional preamplifier stage and if you connect those inputs up to anything else you will probably blow up the amp.

The differing sound levels with CD, online etc through the amp and DVD, BRay and Sky etc...
 

That's what volume knobs are for!

You must be a millennial if you can't be bothered with one if those, for Pete's sake!

There's nothing to say the volume level from any source, whether played through the AVR or not, will be the same as one played through another. Even if you took a CD, a manufactured cassette (if they still make those) or even one of those flat black plastic round things with a hole in the middle, all of the same music, the sound levels would probably all be different.

 

[Samd]

Thankyou both for your replies. I suspect B Arnold esq wanted to say something a tad stronger than 'Pete's sake'! Forgot to mention that the AVR and soon to be amp are both in the detached garage with the speakers in the lounge connected by 50 yards of 2 strand bellwire! Fiddle with knobs - at my age!

 

[Samd]

when playing your AVR through the amp, the amp needs to be on input A1, say, and with its volume set to 11 o'clock, for example.

Yep on the settings - Harmony Ult One should take care of that. Pity int amps don't have a 'on standby pass through'.

 

[chrisr1718]

Or you could try one of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Beresford-TC-7220

 

[Samd]

Changed my mind and gone for the CXA 80 rather than the 60 and added the CXN. Still would prefer a switch but will start off with pre-out/Zone2 and see how I get on!

Ta for all the suggestions.

 

[spiny norman]

Yep on the settings - Harmony Ult One should take care of that. Pity int amps don't have a 'on standby pass through'.

Standby pass-through wouldn't work, as you need the amplification for the front L/R channels. Some amps do have a unity-gain passthrough, so you don't need to adjust the volume control for AV use: the signal goes straight from the relevant input to the power amplification. I don't think the Cambridge CX amps have this feature.

 

[Samd]

Well it doesn't work! The CXA and CXN are really brilliant as witnessed by the neighbours till late last night!

I can get the AVR to output to the amp ONLY when the selected sources for Main and Zone2 are different. No probs with playing DVD on main and internet radio on Zone 2, for example, but when I try to select same source, the zone2 remote button flashes as normal but the display on the AVR does not show the change of source. Tried selecting source from the AVR front panel - same issue. Manual clearly states same or different sources. I have tried not using ARC hdmi and used optical to TV Audio source and about 3 hours worth of other changes to no avail. Even if I manage to find an answer, Audyssey is no go cos it doesn't work at all without front L&R speakers. Wonder if the inability to delete them in Audyssey is something to do with the problem. Have to say that the AVR is very flaky even when changing to different source it sometimes doesn't work first go.

Will try Denon tomorrow but looks likely switch might be needed after all.

 

[Samd]

Just in case someone gets into same muddle as me (unlikely!) following up from telecon with Denon UK this morning. AVR 2300 does not support digital through Zone 2 (3300 upwards do) yet I know I got bdp and sky both on hdmi at same time yesterday but he was adamant so I conceded the argument - maybe it has to be analogue through Zone 2 when same source required. Anyway, and given the Audyssey issue, I have ordered a Speakercraft SL-One Switcher which seems to get a good write-up. Cambridge CXC arrives tomorrow and I have been told to finish spending!

http://www.stoneaudio.co.uk/?product=speakercraft+sl%2done+switcher