Hi all,
I am embarking on the idea of having a vintage amplifier and some connected sources net to may 500 based system. The idea is to share the set of speakers between the 2 systems one at the time via a selector switch, turning on the system ony when the speachers are connected, so as to avoid impedance problems with the amps. Does anyone have such a configuration? any issues? any particular switches used?
Thank you fo your replies.
Salvo
Using any kind of switch between the amp and speakers will degrade performance noticeably - it won’t be something you can ignore. I tried it once many years ago when I had a 42/110. It was the days before the Naim headline and I wanted to switch between speakers and a pair of headphones driven directly from the speaker outputs (with appropriate attenuation etc.) In retrospect it was a daft thing to do. It worked OK but the sound via the speakers was very noticeably worse with the switching unit connected.
I really wouldn’t advise you to do this. If you really want to share speakers between systems then it means just unplugging and reconnecting as required. Which a pain and inconvenient. All in all I think you would do best just to abandon the idea or set up a completely separate vintage system. I predict that if you go ahead with the switch idea you’ll abandon it sooner rather than later because of the impact on sound quality.
Hi, that’s fair enough, you do get a degrade with every bit you add on the chain line, but there must be some way to reduce this to minimum, and really that is what I am looking for. Maybe building a point2point switch box with the same naca5 cabling could limit the problem, but one must think about the actual switching introducing his own impedance/inductance probs. Surely though one has to be able to try things and still somehow get enjoinment. That is the way I think about HIFI
I know only @Dan_M who uses that kind of switch.
I was in a similar situation few years ago (hi-fi and HC amp) and I just went with the simplest solution: 2 sets of speakers cables…
With a switch you’ll need a 3rd one…
If you really want to do it and it’s important to you then fair enough. To me I would find any unnecessary degradation, especially in the context of a 500 based system, completely unacceptable. It seems crazy to pay all that money for top performance and then compromise it like that. But that’s just me. I guess not everyone is so fussy.
Whilst there is a risk of degradation of sound, by how much and how noticeable will depend hugely on the physical switching used, and probably on the particular speaker cables and the specific amps and speaker. With suitable high contact area and high current capability switches and cable terminals the effect might be minimal, though you’d only know by trying with your setup, likewise whether any audible degradation is worth it for the end benefit (especially relative to cost and space occupied by additional speakers - and any degrading effect from having additional speakers in the room. If I were to want to do, then if I couldn’t find a truly hi fi readymade unit I’d try making my own, with a bit of research into switch data - the cost of trying that way would not be huge.,
Surely the simplest solution (though perhaps not the most convenient) is one set of speaker cables which you connect at the amp end as required. Of course the cable used must suit both amps…
BUT you have to have easily access to the back of the amps…
With 2 sets, you just switch at the back of the speakers…
Besides you can choose cables that suits each amp.
Just a bit of additional info. I recall many years ago when I had an A&R Cambridge A60 amp there were two sets of +ve speaker terminals. One set was ‘direct’, the other was inactivated when headphones were connected to the front panel jack. The ‘direct’ outputs sounded very clearly better. I never used headphones back then anyway and I’ve only used them very sporadically since. I do have a pair of Beyer’s but they are packed away somewhere.
I totally agree with you on everything! Let’s be honest on one more thing: at 66 how likely am I going to loose fine details? But looks and playfulness will be like candies 
It would be nice to have cables for dedicated amp, but i own a pair of Thiel 2.3 which have the connectors at the bottom of the speakers. Terrible layout for exchange cables
Possible alternative idea…make sure your speaker cables are long enough to reach either system. Then just unplug them from system 1 and plug to system 2. Switch a source and you are good.
This is interesting. I need to check on the vintage amp if it is the same. Need to know for the Naim 500 side how to behave
I have covered this previously in a number of answers to topics. If you do a search on Beresford switch you will find a good option.
The Beresford is a hub where speaker cables go from each amp to the switch. Then from switch to set(s) of speakers.
The switch is not powered. It works well for my set up.
While I suppose it is true that it isn’t ideal, in reality, a good switch is probably about as noticeable as the difference between matching bi-wire jumper leads and the supplied metal bars. i.e. the difference you hear may be real but the significance of it may be more down to how given one is to hyperbole or if they are off their meds.
Serious hifi switches exist. Luxman used to make several models long since discontinued so likely to be available at bargain prices. Various studio monitor switches will do the trick too.
How often do you want to switch? I currently have two sets of speakers in use but usually only change if rotating the amplifier. To that end I have two sets of speaker cables which stay plugged in at the speakers end with one of these two dangling unused near the amp.
Would I change this more often a switch may be a better option but I personally don’t like the idea of it and swapping cables at the amplifier end is no hardship but that depends on how much access one has.
One set of speakers is sitting inside a Kallax so domestically it all looks unobtrusive. I don’t think I’d want two pairs standing next to each other.
I have one pair of speakers sharing four amps including a Naim pre-power consisting of four boxes. I don’t use a switch but have an additional pair of speaker cables. It is slightly messy but manageable.
I think I may have found the best possible solution. Looking in my stored vintage stuff, I have found this wonderful and well made QED MA19 switch I bought 45 years ago and never used. It is sturdy and guess the connections inside are made of quality components like they used to make then. Maybe I could change the screws that secure the cables with new silver plated for better contact.
