How To Connect 2 Amplifiers to One Set of Speakers-A Straightforward Setup
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Connect 2 Amplifiers to One Set of Speakers
An amplifier is a device that transforms low-voltage signals from your source equipment into a signal strong enough to drive two speakers. By amplifying the comparatively low-level line (or microphone or instrument) level signals, amplifiers are responsible for driving loudspeakers with speaker-level signals. You can connect amplifiers to the speakers to enhance the sound performance. You can also connect 2 amplifiers to one set of speakers at one time.
Many questions arise when we connect 2 amplifiers to one set of speakers.
Possibility of connecting 2 amplifiers to one set of speakers
The common question which is asked by many people is that Is it possible to connect 2 amplifiers to one set of speakers? The simple answer is “yes”.
There are a variety of motives for attempting to do so. You might have a home theatre receiver for movies and a specialized stereo amp for music (as I do) but not enough room for two sets of speakers for each amp (or a wife, who vetoes this solution). You may have one large, strong “performance” amp for active or loud listening, and a smaller, less powerful amp for background music and nocturnal listening when the family is sleeping and loud music is prohibited (like I do in another room).
Alternatively, you may simply wish to compare two amplifiers fast (like we frequently do here at AR), A/B test them without having to wait for long periods of time to turn the amps off, separate speaker cables from one amp, and reconnect them to the other.
Safety of using two amplifiers with a single pair of speakers
If you, do it directly, simply run speaker cords from both amps to your speakers – no way. If you do that and then switch on both amps, you will burn at least one of them, if not both.
Even if you think you’ll be extra careful and remember to switch off one amp before turning on the other, and you will, someone will try to listen to music on your equipment at some point, and your great amp will go poof. The same thing happened to me as well.
Utilizing a reversed speaker selector switch for connection
The question arises can you utilize a reversed speaker selector switch for connection, the straight answer is “no”, not at all. The vast majority of speaker switching units have three main issues. One is that they almost always have something in common. You don’t want common ground between two amplifiers since it can influence their performance (and sound quality) and even cause damage – certain amps have fully balanced outputs and can’t have a common ground between speaker connectors.
Another issue is that many speaker switches incorporate protection and/or impedance matching circuits, which can degrade sound quality and should be avoided. Most (if not all) of these switches also allow you to pick more than one pair of speakers at the same time, which translates to selecting more than one input amp when the switch is reversed. And doing so is the same as attaching two amps to one pair of speakers: if both amps are turned on, at least one of them will fry.
Switch for 2 amplifiers
In order to connect 2 amps, you’ll need a switch, but it must be a special sort of speaker level switch. The switch must perform the following tasks.
- It must be a “break before make” kind (break the connection to one amp before connecting to the other) to prevent both amps from being linked to each other for even a fraction of a second – it must be impossible to pick both amps at the same time.
- It must switch all four connections separately: L+, L-, R+, R- (no common ground).
- Ideally, it should just include binding posts, cables, and the switch itself on the inside (no resistors, no protection circuits, impedance matching etc.).
You can securely connect two amplifiers (or two receivers, or an amp plus a receiver) to one pair of speakers using a switch that fits all of the above criteria.
How to build a switch
You can easily make a switch to connect 2 amplifiers to one set of the speakers. You need some of the parts to make a switch. The parts are given below:
- 1 4PDT switch
- 2 DPDT switches
- 3 sets of stereo speakers (biding posts)
- 5m speaker wire (To connect internal wiring, you may require solder wire and a soldering iron)
- Mounting screw (few needed)
- Glue
How To Connect 2 Amplifiers to One Set of Speakers
- We need a speaker to connect the switch.
- Take down the driver, front wall, and back wall, as well as the bass tunnel. As a result, you had a box with a round entrance in the opposite wall and no one wall.
- Use plywood to construct the missing wall and drilled holes for the binding posts. To connect the binding posts to the switch, utilize speaker wire.
- A 4PDT switch has 12 connectors, often four in three rows. The two outer rows in this application are for amps. The center row is reserved for speakers. As an example:
- Check that each wire is securely fastened with a screw or soldered and that there are no loose strands that could cause a short. After connecting the wires to the connectors, it’s best to isolate them with heat shrink. After soldering, check all connections for conductivity and potential short circuits between connectors. If you short connectors, your amp will be fried, so be careful.
- After eliminating the bass tunnel, we inserted the switch in the opening left.
- Then we added binding posts to the back wall.
- Because wires can become loose during assembly, all connections on the switch should be thoroughly tested for short circuits at this point. Before connecting amps, make sure you do that.
- Now the speakers are ready for the connection.
Result
The end result is a switch that allows you to safely connect two amps to one set of speakers and switch between them even when the amps are turned on.
How To Connect 2 Amplifiers to One Set of Speakers-Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible to use two amplifiers on the same speaker system?
You can securely connect two amplifiers (or two receivers, or an amp plus a receiver) to one pair of speakers using a switch that fits all of the above criteria. They can both be turned on at the same time, and you may change the amps without turning them off.
Is it possible to link two amplifiers together?
The short answer is that as long as you connect them in properly, you can utilize any number or combination of power amps in a car audio system.
Is it possible to connect two amplifiers to a single speaker?
Two amps cannot be connected to a single set of speaker terminals because they will see each other and either blow up, blow fuses, or go into protection mode. You can securely connect an amp to each pair of terminals if your speakers have bi-wire terminals and the jumpers are removed.
How do you connect two amplifiers to a single sub?
Connect the Positive (+) Speaker Output on the Master amp to the Positive Terminal on the Subwoofer (+) with a 12-gauge speaker wire. Sub (+) to Amp (+) Step two: Connect the 12-gauge speaker wire from the Slave amp’s Positive (+) Speaker Output to the Subwoofer’s Negative Terminal (-).
Is it possible to link one amplifier to another?
Using an active crossover to connect one amplifier to another is a simple way. This device divides the audio’s high-end frequencies from the bass frequencies, allowing them to be delivered to distinct amps and hence speakers.
Is it possible to daisy link amplifiers?
Daisy-chaining two amps directly from one to the other is the simplest technique of connecting them. All you’ll need is a guitar, two instrument wires, and the two amps you wish to daisy link.
What is the purpose of bridging an amplifier?
A stereo pair of channels is combined into a single mono output channel by bridging amplifier channels. Bridging is frequently used to increase the power of large full-range speakers in a two-channel system or home theatre, as well as to power larger passive in-room/in-wall subwoofer speakers.
Is it possible to run two amps per sub?
A single voice coil sub will not operate with the two amps, and the outputs will be destroyed from the start. It is possible to use the same amps for a dual voice sub, but it must be properly balanced. On the other hand, two amps and one sub are absolutely feasible.
Which is more powerful: 2 ohm or 4 ohms?
In terms of which subwoofer hits harder, the 2-ohm subwoofer provides a louder sound than the 4-ohm subwoofer, based on the previous reasoning. So, in that sense, the 2-ohm subwoofer is more powerful than the 4-ohm subwoofer.
What kind of amplifier do I need for four speakers?
A four-channel amplifier provides power to Four speakers; two speakers plus a subwoofer—you may power a subwoofer and two rear full-range speakers with a four-channel amp by bridging two of the channels.
How To Connect 2 Amplifiers to One Set of Speakers-Conclusion
From the above steps, you can easily know how to connect 2 amplifiers to one set of speakers. You can easily connect the amplifier this can save your time to search and get much-upgraded speakers and sound system.
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