2. home-theater
  3. 125891-2153

Two channel home theater speaker integration

I have separate two channel and home theater equipment but want to use the same set of speakers. I originally had two sets of speaker wires (one from each amp) with bananas and just swapped cables when switching from 2 channel or home theater. I found a nice switch box that allowed me to input both sets of speaker cables with output to the one set of speakers. After testing for a while, I decided that I compromised my two channel sound. So I decided to put both sets of speaker wires on the speakers. I figured I was only using one amp at a time so what's the big deal. However I have been noticing that sometimes when I switch from two channel back to home theater, the home theater amp goes into a protection mode and shuts down. I have to turn in it off, unplug and replug, and then it works fine. Am I messing up the amps up here with this set up?
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paraneer
818 posts
 
I just had a slightly different situation. I decide to purchase a AV receiver to drive my center channel only and use my HT bypass on my preamp. My center channel is driven by the AV receiver and my main speakers are driven by my 2 channel amp. When I'm listening to music I don't turn the AV receiver on.

+1 for ricred!  Exactly how my system is configured.

To the OP - you stated in a previous post that you already have pre-outs on your Marantz so your in business.  Get a stereo preamp or integrated amp with a Home Theater Bypass feature and you can integrate both your surround system and a high fidelity stereo system into one.  Your stereo power or integrated amp will drive your mains full time.  No switch boxes - just pure clean HiFi for music as it was meant to be. 
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