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  1. #1
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    Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    I'm looking for a relatively painless way to switch between two different sets of amps that doesn't degrade sound quality. Some kind of quick connect end that would work with my WireWorld Platinum Eclipse cables would be perfect.

    My Setup:
    Amps ->
    Audio Research REF 160S (tubes)
    Krell Evolution 600e monoblocks (solid state)
    Speakers ->
    Wilson Alexx's
    Cables ->
    WireWorld Platinum Eclipse, Spade to Spade
    Preamp ->
    Audio Research REF 6SE

    Right now if I want to switch between amps I have to use the screw/binding connectors on the amps and move the spade end of the speaker cables to the amp(s) I'm switching to. It would be ideal if I could avoid having to wrestle with the screw connectors on the amps and use some sort of quick connect; does anyone know of something that would serve the purpose?
    Ref System: Wilson Alexx on Stillpoint Ultras w/Base, dCS Rossini & Upsampler & Clock, Audio Research REF 160S, REF 6SE, WW Platinum Everywhere, Roon
    Office System: B&W N802D2, NAD M10
    Living Room System: B&W N804D, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10
    Bedroom: Dynaudio Focus 160, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10

  2. #2
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Easy solution - change spades to bananas

    Alternative solution - use a second pair of cables so you don't need to change the amp ends - just the speaker ends. If you do this, best to get a short length of plastic tubing (about 3 inches) and shove the bananas that are connected to the amp you are not using into each end. This will ensure against the possibility of a short if you powered up the wrong amp!

    Other alternative way - use a switch box such as this, but you'll need a number of short lengths of speaker cable and connectors.
    Beresford TC-7220 MKIII Amplifier/Speaker Selector | eBay. This box can also be used for 2 amps and / or 2 pairs of speakers, but there will be a slight loss of quality because of the cable inside the box being less good than your cables and more connectors involved. It's marketed under a number of brand names, probably different in your counrty.

    Peter
    Sources - NAD M50.2 (streamer, CD player, CD ripper, hard drive music store)
    Amplification - NAD M33 all-in-one, NAD M12 preamp (in reserve), Atma-Sphere Class D monos
    Speakers - Avantgarde Duo XD, Avantgarde Duo (2006) - both aesthetically modified

  3. #3
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    Sep 2018
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    Houston
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    I built a patch panel with Speakon connectors. The amp cables are permanently connected to the back of the female Speakon connectors, and the speaker cables have Speakon male plugs. The only issue that I have with it is that Speakon will not accept 12ga cables, so had to go with 13ga on the amp side. Ref Vadcon Part No PPX24-NL4MPST.
    Studio/Study:
    Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or McIntosh MVP-901 > Mojo Audio Mystique Evo Dac > Raven Audio Osprey Integrated Tube Amp > Harbeth P3ESR


    Main Listening Rig:
    Shunyata Denali D6000/SV2>Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or Jay's Audio CDT2-Mk3 > TotalDac D1-Tube > VAC Master Preamp > VAC Master 300 > JM Reynaud Orfeo Jubile


    Home Theater:
    Xfinity Cable Box or Oppo BDP105D > McIntosh C2300 Preamp > McIntosh MC302 Amp > JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme

  4. #4
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    St. Louis, MO, USA
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    When I had two separate systems using the same speakers, one stereo and the other HT, I had 2 sets of cables with bananas on the speakers end and just swapped out to which system I was going to use.
    Aurender ACS10 w/Audioquest Diamond USB, Esoteric N05xd
    Mark Levinson #526, 534 & JBL 4367's
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    Clarus Concerto & their Crimson cables

    HT: Marantz AV8003, Linn 5125, JBL SAM3ha, Revel s30,
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    Sony XBR-75X940D & BDP
    Parasound P6, MBL 8006b, Artisan speakers/subwoofer

  5. #5
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    So how exactly would switching to bananas solve this problem? The connectors on the ends of my Wilson Alexx's don't have terminals that support bananas, only spades. And the same goes for the ends on all amps. Its there a way to affix some kind of spade connector on the end and have that feed into a banana connector?
    Ref System: Wilson Alexx on Stillpoint Ultras w/Base, dCS Rossini & Upsampler & Clock, Audio Research REF 160S, REF 6SE, WW Platinum Everywhere, Roon
    Office System: B&W N802D2, NAD M10
    Living Room System: B&W N804D, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10
    Bedroom: Dynaudio Focus 160, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10

  6. #6
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Quote Originally Posted by Scotty View Post
    I built a patch panel with Speakon connectors. The amp cables are permanently connected to the back of the female Speakon connectors, and the speaker cables have Speakon male plugs. The only issue that I have with it is that Speakon will not accept 12ga cables, so had to go with 13ga on the amp side. Ref Vadcon Part No PPX24-NL4MPST.
    I like the idea of a connector like the Speakon. The thing is, my speaker cables are too pricey to have two pair so I need to use the same set to go between the two sets of amps.

    And now that I've had a little time to listen to these Evolution 600e's, I have to say they sound good enough to be my main amps forever; they sound really good with Alexx's. The bass is incredible, and the mids are shockingly transparent. The highs have a touch of sibilance, but nothing worse than that of D'Agostinlo M400's. In fact they sound very similar save the better bass with the Krells. Absolutely sleeper amps.
    Ref System: Wilson Alexx on Stillpoint Ultras w/Base, dCS Rossini & Upsampler & Clock, Audio Research REF 160S, REF 6SE, WW Platinum Everywhere, Roon
    Office System: B&W N802D2, NAD M10
    Living Room System: B&W N804D, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10
    Bedroom: Dynaudio Focus 160, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10

  7. #7
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Lots of similar options out there in several price ranges

    Transparent Spade to Banana Adapter
    -----------------
    Brian

    Main System -
    Rotel RCD-1572 / Rega P3 > Luxman 505UX Mark II > Fyne Audio F502SPs > Synergistic Cables

    Secondary - OPPO 93 > VAC CLA 1 MKII Pre > Odyssey Stratos > Dynaudio Audience 82s > Tara Labs Cables


  8. #8
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    Apr 2017
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    Central FL
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Not cheap but there's this - ABX Switch Comparator – Audio by Van Alstine
    Main System - Lumin U2, Modwright LS36.5 DM Preamp, VTV Purifi 1ET-7040SA with tube buffer, EMM Labs DAC 2X (ver. 2), Torus RM-20, Thiel CS 3.7s, 2 Rel S/812 subs
    Back-up 1 - Premium Audio mini Gan Amp, Oppo 103D, 2 Richard Gray cond, Selah SA-2s, Sumiko S5 sub, Teac UD-503 DAC, Carver (modded) C-9
    Back-up 2 - Onkyo TX-NR797, Panasonic DP-UB820, Vansevers cond, B&W P6s, PowerSoundAudio S1500 sub

  9. #9
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    One could also check hifishark to see if another used one hits the market like this one - Used abx switch for Sale | HifiShark.com
    Main System - Lumin U2, Modwright LS36.5 DM Preamp, VTV Purifi 1ET-7040SA with tube buffer, EMM Labs DAC 2X (ver. 2), Torus RM-20, Thiel CS 3.7s, 2 Rel S/812 subs
    Back-up 1 - Premium Audio mini Gan Amp, Oppo 103D, 2 Richard Gray cond, Selah SA-2s, Sumiko S5 sub, Teac UD-503 DAC, Carver (modded) C-9
    Back-up 2 - Onkyo TX-NR797, Panasonic DP-UB820, Vansevers cond, B&W P6s, PowerSoundAudio S1500 sub

  10. #10
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Quote Originally Posted by radioactive View Post
    So how exactly would switching to bananas solve this problem? The connectors on the ends of my Wilson Alexx's don't have terminals that support bananas, only spades. And the same goes for the ends on all amps. Its there a way to affix some kind of spade connector on the end and have that feed into a banana connector?
    What - this sort of thing?

    Amazon.co.uk

    Dozens of options on Amazon and elsewhere. Angled ones as opposed to right angle, try this

    Amazon.co.uk

    I personally avoid amps or speakers that don't offer industry-standard banana and spade connectors.
    Sources - NAD M50.2 (streamer, CD player, CD ripper, hard drive music store)
    Amplification - NAD M33 all-in-one, NAD M12 preamp (in reserve), Atma-Sphere Class D monos
    Speakers - Avantgarde Duo XD, Avantgarde Duo (2006) - both aesthetically modified

  11. #11
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Humm. That banana to spade adapter looks promising. Thanks for the recommendation.
    Ref System: Wilson Alexx on Stillpoint Ultras w/Base, dCS Rossini & Upsampler & Clock, Audio Research REF 160S, REF 6SE, WW Platinum Everywhere, Roon
    Office System: B&W N802D2, NAD M10
    Living Room System: B&W N804D, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10
    Bedroom: Dynaudio Focus 160, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10

  12. #12
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    And then there is the Mapletreeaudio switch box. I have one, and it is solid and works well.
    Welcome to Mapletree Audio Design
    Studio/Study:
    Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or McIntosh MVP-901 > Mojo Audio Mystique Evo Dac > Raven Audio Osprey Integrated Tube Amp > Harbeth P3ESR


    Main Listening Rig:
    Shunyata Denali D6000/SV2>Mojo Audio Deja Vu Evo Universal Music Server > or Jay's Audio CDT2-Mk3 > TotalDac D1-Tube > VAC Master Preamp > VAC Master 300 > JM Reynaud Orfeo Jubile


    Home Theater:
    Xfinity Cable Box or Oppo BDP105D > McIntosh C2300 Preamp > McIntosh MC302 Amp > JM Reynaud Offrande Supreme

  13. #13
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    So I purchased two pair of Cardas Banana to Spade Adapters along with Wireworld Uni-Term banana ends for my cables. This "shouldn't" affect sound quality any as the Cardas adapters are rhodium plated and of very high quality.

    Appreciate everyone's advice and recommendations. You guys are awesome! Thank you.
    Ref System: Wilson Alexx on Stillpoint Ultras w/Base, dCS Rossini & Upsampler & Clock, Audio Research REF 160S, REF 6SE, WW Platinum Everywhere, Roon
    Office System: B&W N802D2, NAD M10
    Living Room System: B&W N804D, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10
    Bedroom: Dynaudio Focus 160, NAD M10, Velodyne DD+10

  14. #14
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    Re: Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

    Quote Originally Posted by radioactive View Post
    So I purchased two pair of Cardas Banana to Spade Adapters along with Wireworld Uni-Term banana ends for my cables. This "shouldn't" affect sound quality any as the Cardas adapters are rhodium plated and of very high quality.

    Appreciate everyone's advice and recommendations. You guys are awesome! Thank you.
    That's certainly the simplest way to do it. The trouble with switch boxes (I have the Berresford mentioned above) is that you need a bundle of short cables with connectors and the quality of the internal wiring won't be up to the quality you are looking for.

    A suggestion regarding your Cardas adaptors - insulate the banana socket part, preferably with red and black heat-shrink. Will help avoid chance of a short and will easily identify polarity. Peter
    Sources - NAD M50.2 (streamer, CD player, CD ripper, hard drive music store)
    Amplification - NAD M33 all-in-one, NAD M12 preamp (in reserve), Atma-Sphere Class D monos
    Speakers - Avantgarde Duo XD, Avantgarde Duo (2006) - both aesthetically modified

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Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

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