The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue.
The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


2 posters

    Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps

    avatar
    Reid


    Posts : 9
    Join date : 2009-02-05

    Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps Empty Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps

    Post by Reid Sun Jan 10, 2010 3:45 pm

    I have one preamp, one tube amp, one SS amp and have been swapping out the RCA connectors from the pre to the amp to be used along with the speaker wires. Is there a better way to switch out these amps? I listen to 2 channel 80 percent of the time, 20 percent home theater. I do not like to use my tubes with home theater. Reaching behind all of the gear is a pain.

    Would appreciate any suggestions.
    avatar
    hvlee


    Posts : 8
    Join date : 2008-12-04
    Age : 82
    Location : Maryville, Tennessee

    Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps Empty I'm so proud of this...

    Post by hvlee Mon Jan 11, 2010 10:59 am

    I have a pair of A-25's shared by a tube system (FM-3,PAS-3X,ST-70) and a solid state system (AF-6,PAT-4,ST-150). I was tired of swapping the speaker wires, even with the convenience of banana plugs. I don't like to leave the tube system on when I'm not in the room but I sometimes leave the SS system on all day. Sometimes I just like to compare so convenience in switching between them was important.

    Using a pair of Radio Shack DPDT 12 volt relays, a spare 12 volt wall wart, two barrier terminal strips and a plastic-topped box of a convenient size, I rigged a relay setup to switch the speakers automatically.

    The wall wart is plugged into a switched outlet on the PAT using a short extension cord. When the PAT is turned on, the relays are energized and the speakers are connected to the ST-150. When the PAT is off, the relays are relaxed and the speakers are connected to the ST-70.

    The idea came from my other hobby of vintage amateur radio. A similar relay setup is used to switch the antenna from receiver to transmitter when energized by the "Push to Talk" switch on the microphone.

    In both cases, the desire is to accomplish the switching automatically without having to fool with another switch.

    Harry
    Maryville, Tennessee
    avatar
    hvlee


    Posts : 8
    Join date : 2008-12-04
    Age : 82
    Location : Maryville, Tennessee

    Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps Empty Sorry

    Post by hvlee Mon Jan 11, 2010 11:20 am

    In my eagerness to tell my story, I missed the detail that you're sharing a preamp also so my method won't work for you.

    You can get a switch for switching the preamp to different amps from Radio Shack, Best Buy or many others.

    I've seen it suggested elsewhere that a switch which switches among multiple speaker systems can be used for your purpose, just in reverse. There are a bunch of warnings about "make before break" and shorting switches.

    Maybe someone with experience with these will post.

    Harry

    Sponsored content


    Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps Empty Re: Help swapping Tubes and SS Amps

    Post by Sponsored content


      Current date/time is Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:08 am