Can I Drive More Speakers With My 2ch Integrated?


I recently bought a Krell S-300i integrated amp. The plan was to use it to drive my main speakers, but I also have two additional pairs. My initial thought was to connect the other 2 pairs to a second amp/receiver which would be connected to the Krell. Problem? The Krell only has a preout, no tape out, so if I did it that way, I wouldn't have independent vol. control, as all speakers would only respond to the Krell's volume control. Any suggestions?
Thanks
thaluc
The two additional pairs of speakers would not "only respond to the Krell's volume control," they would respond to both volume controls. If I understand your question correctly, I would think you would set the volume control on the Krell to where you normally set it for the main speakers, and then set the other volume control to provide the volume you want on the other speakers. If you subsequently were to change the volume setting on the Krell, it would affect all speakers similarly.

Regards,
-- Al
Yes. You just need a decent quality speaker switch.

A speaker switch will take a single pair of stereo speaker leads in and provide multiple output leads that can be switched in in various combinations as needed.

I use a Niles 6 way speaker switch to run my system via in-wall speaker wiring I had installed when the house was built to any combo of 5 speakers I have currently in various rooms in my house (one of the six outputs provided is currently not being used).

The Niles switch works quite well + I can highly recommend it. I think it cost about $100 when I bought it new several years back.
Thanks to both. Mapman, i've used a speaker switch in the past (with my Denon AVR most recently) but I was told not to do that with a Krell. Almarg, I don't think I can set the volume control on the Krell for main zone and then use the vol control on the 2nd amp for the other 2. I think all 3 pairs will be controlled by the Krell --so I wouldn't be able, for example, mute one pair and listen to the other two. Am I right or am I missing smth?
Thx
Thaluc -- Yes, that's correct. You wouldn't be able to fully mute the speakers being driven by the Krell while listening to the other speakers. It wasn't clear to me that you wanted to accomplish that. If it's any help, though, you should be able to set the main speakers to a significantly lower volume than the others, by setting the Krell's volume control in the lower part of its range and the other amp's volume control in the upper part of its range. The signal path from the common preamp out point forward would have the gain of a line stage in the path to the secondary speakers, but not in the path from that point forward to the main speakers.

Regards,
-- Al
If that workes, it would be fine. I don't have to mute the the speakers controlled by the Krell. My concern was whether I'd have to listen to all 3 pairs at the same level all the time
Thanks
Good! And I should have added that you will, of course, be able to fully mute the secondary speakers while listening to the main speakers at normal volume, simply by turning the volume control on the secondary amp/receiver all the way down.

Regards,
-- Al