Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions How to connect 2 sources to 1 power amp?

Need help from the experts or the EEs.
My situation is that my CDP (CD player) sounds best when plugged directly to my power amp which is connected to my speakers. My CDP has a built in opamp/preamp so it has its own volume control.
I also want my surround receiver also connected to the same power amp via its pre-outs.
So I was thinking of using a passive switcher like this:
http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?accstwek&1067901900
Do you guys think this will be an issue. Any suggestions of other devices for my situation. I did have the CDP connected the the surround receiver but I still like the sound with CDP direct to the power amp. My receiver in 2 stereo mode doesn't sound transparent. There is a sound difference between the CDP->poweramp vs CDP->Surround Receiver->power amp.

Saturn

Saturn, what kind of amp do you have and how many channels of amplification? You may want to consider a Surround processor with good 2 channel performance. I've been thinking of getting one myself. They range in price from modest - Outlaw 950, to a bit more, Rotel RSP-1066, to the much more expensive Anthem AVM-20 or Integra Research RDC-7. Of course if you want to sell the house, there's always Lexicon and Krell.

Let us know what you decide.

hey 2x6

The equipment:

Rotel RSX-1065 100x5 7.1 capable
Bryston 4B 2x250w - currently on Rotel main L-R channel pre-out
Bryston 3B 2x125w - waiting to be hooked up to passive HSU or SVS sub (when funds allow)
Bryston 2B 2x60w - currently on Rotel center biamped
Marantz 63 Special Edition modded

Problem: Stereo room=HT room=living room
The Rotel is good but still not as good as CD player direct to 4B. Hence the switcher idea.

CDP -> Rotel -> 4B = okey sound
CDP -> 4B = excellent sound

My thinking

CDP -> input A of switcher -> poweramp
Rotel -> input B of switcher of above -> same poweramp above

The Rotel is the flagship receiver they have. I doubt that is going unless I can trade it up for a Bryston processor which does have a 2 stereo bypass. Rotel does not have that feature.

Also another possiblity is replace switcher above with a standard (solid or tube)pre-amp.

Saturn,

I don't see any issues/problems using an external selector switch like the one you linked. Just in case, I would re-confirm that the switch is an open-before-connect design (which all source selector switches should be).