Two Amplifiers

[skularatna]

I currently have an Itube 252 Valve amp which i use to listen to music and will be buying a separate amp Yamaha DSP-AX863SE purely for Blu Ray and DVD. My question is this.

I currently have the two speakrs bi-wire connected using the QED silver anniversay XT banana plug terminated to the valve amp. When I watch films I'll simply unplug and plug it into the Yamaha amp. Now since these speakers are bi-wire and I wont be bi-wiring the rears or the centre, as the cables are expensive. Would you experts advice to change the speaker back to single wire config when watching films or would it not matter if the fronts are bi-wired and the rears and centre and single wired.

You may think im crazy for wanting 2 amps. But truth is i love the sound of the valves.

 

[John Duncan]

Easy, take the preouts from the Yamaha into a spare input on the iTube, set the volume on the iTube to 12 o'clock (say), run the Yamaha's auto-calibrate, done. Then you can just leave the speakers plugged into the valve amp - set the volume to 12 and the input to the spare input you plugged into earlier when you watch films. Sorted.

 

[Messiah]

I would leave the speakers wired as they are. This will be fine.

Additionally, instead of having to keep switching the speakers between amps you could (providing the Yammy has Pre-Outs) connect the Pre-Outs for the front left and right channel of the Yammy to a spare input on the amp. Then go through the set up process setting the Valve amp volume to say 12 O'clock (easy to remember). Then each time you watch a movie you just return the amp volume to this position. This way you don't have to switch speaker cables over and you only need the receiver when watching movies.

Hope this makes sense!

EDIT - as John says - must of typed quicker

 

[John Duncan]

(jinx)

 

[Messiah]

Make a wish!

 

[skularatna]

might be a silly question... but won't that mean the 2 front channels speakers wil lbe processed via the valve. I want the Yamaha to control all speakers when watching films? Perhaps I've misunderstood?

 

[Messiah]

Well the Yammy will be controlling them. The Valve will just be adding the power - effectively acting as a power amp.

 

[John Duncan]

skularatna:might be a silly question... but won't that mean the 2 front channels speakers wil lbe processed via the valve.

Precisely

skularatna:I want the Yamaha to control all speakers when watching films? Perhaps I've misunderstood?

Why? It will sound no worse, probably better, and you don't have to faff with wires. Unless you play movies at mind-blowing volumes...

 

[skularatna]

Ok, I take it I will obviously need to set the valve amp to the correct input selector then when watching movies?

 

[John Duncan]

Yes, whichever spare input you used in step one, and set the volume to whatever volume you set before running the calibration.

 

[skularatna]

Excellent, thanks for all the help. It means I dont have to go throug the hassle of swapping wires when I want to listen to music / watch films.

 

[Messiah]

Exactly - and you get the best of both worlds. Great amp for movies. Better amp for music!