Easy/Painless Way To Switch Between Amps ??

radioactive

radioactive

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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?
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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?
 
Scotty said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
radioactive said:
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?
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
radioactive said:
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.
Click to expand...

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
 
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