Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Advice from Axiom Owners Hooking speakers to both A and B outputs

Should it be OK to hook my M60s to both the A and B output of my Onkyo TX-DS939? The idea behind this would be to have A setup as 5.1 with everything adjusted just right(set to small), and have B setup for just plain stereo with the speakers set to large and the subwoofer off.

I'm concerned that feeding the power coming out of A back into B (and vice-versa) could damage my receiver. Does anyone know if it would be a problem, or should I try to get Onkyo to answer the question?

Michael

Hi MCodanti,

I wouldn't advise you to do this. I'm not sure how the Onkyo implements its A/B switching, but your concerns are valid.

Regards,

If you do decide to try this, call Onkyo first and make sure they have the terminals properly isolated. I think your concern is definitely valid. If the terminals are isolated, you better be very careful about never accidentally leaving both switches down. I've had guests mess with my receiver when I wasn't looking and switch this. I would imagine that could be a problem.

Leaving both switches down isn't an option, as it is electronic (you can switch from the remote) and hitting A turns B off first, then switches A on.

I'm guessing from the relays clicking when I switch that they are isolated, but I would research more before I actually do it.

I have asked Onkyo about it, and I haven't gotten a useful reply yet.

You know another way to do this would be to get one of those multi source selectors. The same ones used in audio shops to allow to hear the same speakers from several different amps, only you would be using the A and B off the same receiver.

Do you know where I can get a small (inexpensive) one that can be controlled by remote control?

I will drop in and check with a friend of mine tonight that owns an audio store nearby where I live to see if such an animal exist (remotely controlled that is) I will let you know shortly.

Well it seems that are several units that can be remote controlled, but cheap is not part of the vocabulary. The couple units that we looked up ranged in price from 300 to 600 dollars. The type that you switch manually range from 60-250 dollars depending on features and number of inputs. If you search the web for multi source selectors you will find a number of units.

Michael,

Are you sure the Onkyo doesn't allow you to switch modes between 5.1 and stereo, maintaining your bass management preferences? I'm pretty a lot of receivers allow for this.

BTW, why wouldn't you run your M60s as large in 5.1? LFEs on soundtracks will still be directed to the sub with the M60s set as large.

OK, I actually want to get something to make my comparing the different speakers/receivers easier.

I would like something that let me switch between 3 receivers on one or two sets of speakers. It doesn't need to be remote controlled. Basiclly I want a little one of those systems they have in the hifi stores. (Of course I really only need it for a week)

I looked on the web for "mutli source selectors" and I couldn't find what I was looking for.

Michael

Try this link I think this is what you are looking for.
Multi Speaker Selector

They have many different models to choose from if this does not suit your requirements. click on the speaker selector link next to the image of this one to see all the models.

Regards
John

That would do speaker selection, but I need to do receiver selection. i.e. 3 receivers to 1 set of speakers. I think you need something a little different to prevent any cross connecting. (I don't want to connect the speaker outputs of two receivers together)

Michael

Michael,

You would just hook it up in reverse, connect your speakers to the input and then your receivers to the outputs, Now yuo have one set of speakers and multiple amps. Most of these devices are just dumb devices, that is to say the selection is done with a mechanical switch so it does not matter which way they are connected.

Other than they allow you to have multiple speakers selected at once. (Or in my case multiple receivers) and that would be really, really bad. I would have to be VERY careful to unselect one receiver before selecting the other. I really want something like the stores use that allows me to select between multiple receivers and multiple speakers.

Michael

Sorry the rest of the reply got cut off,

You will just have to be careful not to turn (select) 2 receivers at once. I think that to do it the way you want via a dedicated switch for multi amps is very expensive. You will find some by searching google for "multi source selector" but I do not think that you want to spend that much on this, or do you?

regards
John.

PS. I will be away for the week, and will catch up with you when I return. Good Luck with this, if you cannot find anything let me know I will see if I can make you something relatively cheap.

LOL you were replying as I was reposting the rest of my message.

Have look and see what you can find. When I get back I will see where you are at and if you still need something then we can see what I can do to help you out.

Cheers
John.