Wrangling multiple speaker sets

[Brian_at_HHH 2,693]

Advance warning:  I may be opening a BIG can of worms here, so beware if you read on (now just TRY to resist going forward ?).

 

I admit it - I have been avoiding this question because I know the inevitable outcome is all too likely going to be opening the door to acquiring more speakers- my wallet is already whimpering.  ?

 

Many of you have more than one set of speakers, some of you, MANY more (you know who you are!?), and while some of you simply have multiple power amps (again, some of you have more amps, than I have LPs and CDs), how do the rest of you switch between different sets of speakers? 

 

I know there are speaker switching units, some which will try and let you run multiple sets supposedly some with impedance matching (sure, I'm gonna trust that at 300+ watts!), and with a lot of searching, even a very few that claim to handle Carver power levels. Are those the way to go, or do you simply disconnect your speaker wires and move them? If so, which end (amp or speaker)? Or do you have some other wondrous way to do it, that my tunnel vision has missed completely?

 

Maybe I will be lucky, and everyone will explain how huge and awkward an effort it is to switch between multiple sets of speakers, and my wallet will heave a big sigh of relief, knowing I'll behave for awhile and stick to my current speakers, which I may do anyway ... until ... unless ... hmmm ...

[itchitch 4,514]

This may not be the solution you’re looking for but I run two audio systems with one preamp. 

The Parasound Halo P5 is a decent unit that has both an adjustable high pass filter and bass management controls. I split the pre outs to two systems:

 

M-500t paired with Sunfire CRM2’s (the P5 allows me to only pass 100hz+ to The Sunfires)

 

Carver 350’s paired with Klipsch Heresy IIIs (I run these full range)

 

I run a Sunfire Subrosa with each system. 

[Rockster2U 668]

I haven’t used it in years but I have a Russound box that can be connected to either of two different sources and six pairs of speakers. It maintains an 8 ohm load whether one is using a single pair of speakers or any multiple up to six pairs. It was quite reliable and I used it when I tied several rooms in my house to my main system. It did not however, have independent volume controls.

 

Deviating somewhat from your question, I have a Rolls Distribution Amplifier which permits me to run multiple amps to multiple pairs of speakers using a single preamp. This does have independent L & R volume controls for each amplifier and set of speakers.

 

[Brian_at_HHH 2,693]

@Itchitch, multiple amps are certainly one route, and given the amp farms some folks have, it does seem to me that this is a popular choice, here.   It DOES fit the OCCD profile, after all.  Nice combination of amps and speakers, BTW!  No question about your taste, there.  

 

Don't worry if it's not what might suit me, I'm hoping this gives others some ideas, too, and they may find such answers perfect for them.  You have touted the virtues of that Parasound Halo preamp a few times, I've noticed - if I hadn't gone the BillD C1 route I think I'd have to give it some serious consideration.  

 

@Rockster2U, thanks - I've looked at the Russound and similar units.   I wasn't sure, before, how well they worked, and the other worry I had was almost all of them top out at 150 to 200 watts.  Since I'm soon going to add a M1.0t MkII, I was a bit worried about toasting it without the amp even breathing hard.  As I suggested, I have see some units that do go higher (350+) - at least now I have it on good authority they are a viable option.  My wallet is calling you bad names, already.  ?

 

To be honest, I will probably never come close to the original max on that amp, let alone with the mods.

 

The Rolls amp is an interesting option - not a deviation at all.  Not likely a route I'd take, but I'm not going say "no" - it actually has some very interesting options for doing just what it's for - running speakers in various other places.

 

BTW, sorry about the @names - sometimes it just does't kick in for me - likely some quirk of certain browsers.  ?

[Rockster2U 668]

Brian - I actually use that Rolls Distribution Amp to run separate speakers in the same room. I Have a C-1 which feeds my Amazing Silvers via either one or two M1.0t MKII option 002 amps on the main channel. I run the Rolls on the secondary channel and it feeds a pair of Conrad Johnson Synthesis Speakers hooked up to either one or two M-200ts. This permits me to set the volume levels independently and I have found the Conrad Johnson’s compliment the Silvers quite nicely.

[4RUNNER 520]

I run 2 sets of speakers as mains and for 2 channel  1 pair Kef 104/2 I run in "power steering" mode with 2 M1.0 MKII OPT2 the other pair are Carver AL III I run with the same amps vertically biamped. I manually disconnect or connect speaker wires and rca's as needed is allot of work and put my back out about a month ago switching to the Kefs but is still worth the effort. 

[Brian_at_HHH 2,693]

@Rockster2Uthat certainly takes the multi-amp route to a whole new level, for those of us with C1's or similar.  I seem to remember looking up the Roll's gear after you(?)mentioned it somewhere recently, and being very impressed with the variety of things they had.  Sometimes the old brain needs a Nerf bat to the head to remind it of things.

 

You, too, have a seriously droolworthy setup, BTW.

 

I am curious what happens with those folks whose listening rooms look more like a speaker sales room.  I can't imagine they move the cabels, so do they use something like the Russound box?

 

@4RUNNER, I wrote the bit above before I saw your reply.  That's what I was afraid you folks were doing, and I hope your back is okay?!  Listening to music isn't supposed to be a dangerous hobby (except to the health of your wallet, of course).  Thanks, and please be careful.

Edited February 18, 2019 by Brian_at_HHH
Added response

[4RUNNER 520]

@brian_at-hhh is all good now twisted the wrong way lifting 1 of the speakers. When not used as mains I use the Kefs as surrounds so requires a bit of shuffling to get them set up front.

[Sk1Bum 11,490]

I tote the Martin Logan's down the hall to the living room, and then tote the Infinity RS IIIa's back down the same hall to the stereo room. I use the same cables for each set of speakers. It's about 25 ft or 8m. 

 

I need to widen the hallway so I can carry a speaker in each hand.   

[4RUNNER 520]

52 minutes ago, Sk1Bum said:

I need to widen the hallway so I can carry a speaker in each hand.

not sure if it applies but let me know how that passes the WAF test

[Sk1Bum 11,490]

1 hour ago, 4RUNNER said:

not sure if it applies but let me know how that passes the WAF test

 

A long time ago, an ex told me that I had a problem because I had 8 amplifiers. I agreed that I had a problem, and I traded her off. Problem solved.  

[B-Man 4,781]

How can you have multiple sets of speakers in the same listening space and get proper imaging and such without re-positioning them when you decide to use them ?

 

Or am I missing something ?

[Rockster2U 668]

7 minutes ago, B-Man said:

How can you have multiple sets of speakers in the same listening space and get proper imaging and such without re-positioning them when you decide to use them ?

 

Or am I missing something ?

 

Along the same line of thinking I experimented with a third set of speakers (Infinity Kappa 7s) in the same listening space and was quite disappointed. The resulting sound could best be described as a muddy clash of noise. The combination just didn’t play well together no matter how I positioned speakers or tinkered with relative volume levels and other adjustments. My current setup with the Amazing Silvers and Conrad Johnson’s took weeks of critical listening, experimenting and positioning to achieve what I have today and I  have marked their position on the floor. I think B-Man raises a very valid point.

[Dadvw 2,877]

On 2/18/2019 at 4:21 AM, Sk1Bum said:

A long time ago, an ex told me that I had a problem because I had 8 amplifiers. I agreed that I had a problem, and I traded her off. Problem solved.  

 

Why is it they can have 50 pairs of shoes but we can’t have 8 amps?.......grin. I didn’t have the gear I have now until I got divorced.......grin

[Daddyjt 9,633]

This is what I use to change between speaker pairs:

 

I only have one set hooked up at a time - when changing, I manually move the cables from speaker to speaker (when I have two pair out at once). 

 

 

 

[4krow 6,621]

 Why does that cart make me remember the movie, 'Silence of the lambs'? I have been bitten (sorry for the pun) by wanting more than one set of speakers to listen to. Rarely works out well, but it benefits me when I use banana plugs at both ends, making that impractical body position less long. Back in the day, I had a full sized military rack with my equipment in it, and it was on metal casters. Even had a special light in the back, making new connections easier. Then I got married...

[Zoom 373]

8 hours ago, B-Man said:

How can you have multiple sets of speakers in the same listening space and get proper imaging and such without re-positioning them when you decide to use them ?

 

Or am I missing something ?

 

100% agreed with this.  I loose sleep thinking about it. ?

I have my A/V rig and my ‘critical listening’ setup in the same room.  

For A/V I try as best I can to setup my front three pairs of drivers on exactly the same  plane (rt and lft). I use a straight edge (yardstick or similar) to match the faces of the front three on each side.  I believe if you have multiple fronts (especially on a decent A/V rig) keeping each right and left signal on its own plane keeps he signal from any kind of relative delay.  The four bottom end amps of course don’t need to be as fussy.  

I shut off the front 7 and switch to my m500 when I don’t want to wake the dead.  The only physical change I make to the room are I might pivot my Time Frames sideways out of the way when not in use as they are thin (on the m500) or sometimes I will lay them flat on their face with a blocker to keep them just off the floor.  

This helps with not having to constantly remeasure and aim them for the SH. 

Make sense?

 

Edited February 18, 2019 by Zoom

[Brian_at_HHH 2,693]

13 hours ago, Sk1Bum said:

I need to widen the hallway so I can carry a speaker in each hand.   

 

Are you mad @Sk1Bum?  For goodness sake get yourself a suitable dolly rather than carrying those monsters.

 

@B-Man you make a great point on the extra sets interfering with one another.  In my case, my listening space will never be close to the ideal, so it's not likely to be a big factor for me, but I can definitely see it being a huge factor for many of you.  

 

Quick aside, as much as I may love the idea of them, something like a set of Amazings of any version are never going to fit without some huge renovations (and no, I'm not moving, again, other than leaving feet first in a pine box).

 

@Daddyjt - that cart is nowhere neat big enough to move around most of your collection!  I'm thinking one of the powered transporters from the warehouse I work in might be more suitable for your situation.

 

 

Overall, it seems like most of you go full out, disconnecting speakers, each time, and clearly are risking life, limb, and posture in the process.   I do agree that this is definitely a place for banana plugs or equivalent - probably the best reason for them, in fact.

 

Thanks guys - all in all, there's a lot of food for thought, here.  I'm not sure if this will encourage or discourage me from pondering more speakers.  I also need to remember, I don't have room for big ribbon or electrostatics, so I have to remember that when window shopping.  Tab-A has to be able to fit into Slot-B.  

[Papajoe 221]

A rule that I always go by is " for every pair of speakers that I buy, I need to have a system to power them".  That helps to keep down the 'want to buy more speakers' to a minimum. 

Papajoe

Edited February 18, 2019 by Papajoe

[danowood 2,167]

multiple amping through c-1 to run 5 (pairs) of speakers, total 10 speakers. Using 2 m1.0 MK II, 2 M4.0T's, tm35, m.05, pt 2400.

[Brian_at_HHH 2,693]

Ha, yes @Papajoe and @danowood - that's probably the cleanest way to do it, and it totally supports the OCCD desires.  I am trying to avoid becoming an amp farmer, though.  ?  If I'm tight on space for extra speakers, I'm even tighter for amps.  Hmmm, maybe I could just opt to get another cabinet, just for amps...   Stop it, Brian!  This is going down rabbit holes I never saw coming.  

[kve777 6,889]

STOP!

You will not learn ANYTHING by A-B'ing speakers in the manner prescribed. Nope! Won't help.

 

If you are seeking to find which pair of speakers pleases you most, by swapping between two(or more!) pairs for a few minutes at a time, you are sadly misdirected. 

 

Think about this: If you are trying to find which sexual partner pleases you most, would you put each in a bed and jump between beds for a few minutes at a time? All in one night? Didn't think so.

 

Here's how you do it: Play one pair for a whole week, move them around, find the sweet spot, listen for long periods with varying sources and media. Take a break, listen to nothing for a couple of days, then look back on your last listening experience, what was your big 'take away'? 

 

Repeat this process for each pair of speakers.

 

YES! It takes a long time!

 

Yes! It will be rewarding in the end.

 

I can't tell you how long it took me to 'find' my favorite speakers(Snell C/v's). I had long, intimate relationships with horns and ribbons, just to learn I prefer mainly soft dome and some really well presented metal dome mids and tweeters. Your results will vary. I can appreciate horns and paper cones, sure. It's a process. Don't try short cuts. A-B'ing just doesn't cut it for truly understanding the nuances of speakers. 

[MLB111 191]

9 hours ago, kve777 said:

STOP!

Think about this: If you are trying to find which sexual partner pleases you most, would you put each in a bed and jump between beds for a few minutes at a time? All in one night? Didn't think so.

 

Might have tried about 50 years ago.  Just about the time I thought this topic couldn't be better it gets all romantic.  Lots to learn on the CS.

[Daddyjt 9,633]

5 hours ago, Papajoe said:

A rule that I always go by is " for every pair of speakers that I buy, I need to have a system to power them".  That helps to keep down the 'want to buy more speakers' to a minimum. 

Papajoe

 

Jeez, NOW you tell me - I royally screwed that particular pooch...

[Magnaryder 757]

I'm firmly in Kevs camp on this one but with a slight twist. I have 3 rigs set up in my living room, one EAR and one 275 powered. The wrinkle here is simply moving my chair a bit. My main rig flanks the plasma and the other is set half way back in the room along the left wall, so to change rigs I scoot my chair back about 2 feet and rotate it 90 degrees. I typically use the EAR when home alone when I want some near field action with my Cambridge M-80s or the Alesis Monitor Ones. The 3rd rig sports cans in a couple of configurations. CarverFest 2011 amp/Stax cans, Schiit Lyr/Magni/Magni3 AKG 7XX or my new $35 Massdrop Mitchell and Johnson GL-1s. 

 

ray