Assign speakers thru pre-amp

Until I can land a Dyna pre-amp to run the ST-70 I have been using an Advent Model 300. Not many inputs and not very versatile. Yesterday a friend brought over a H-K Citation 11 preamp and I took it for $40. After looking at it and the weight it had I thought hey, this is a power amp. But it looks like it is only a pre-amp, with a feature to run the speakers back thru from the power amp and assign them with the Cit 11. I checked it out and seems some early Dyna pre-amps had the same feature.  Guess the logic is that the power amp would be stashed away somewhere separate and all you needed would be on one component to run your system.

Interesting concept, wondered what size cable they used to run from the amp back to the pre-amp. Seems that would be the weak spot given the potential tube power and big speakers common to that era. It didn't seem to be done very long as I have never seen this before. The thing also weighs a ton, early SS I guess. While I'm at it anyone have experience with these or an opinion on quality/sound/etc.? Thx....

Hello again --- funny that you should ask about the 11!!

See the following link:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=228849

Also, just do a google search on "Citation 11 preamp".  Lots of stuff shows up.

Have fun,
Stew

Actually it was Dynaco's last preamp, the PAT-5, that had a speaker selector switch. It was fine as long as you weren't using anything fatter than zip cord.

I beg to differ! I used a PAT-5 with a Stereo120 for many years with Monster cable 12 or 10 gauge wire from amp to preamp and preamp to speakers. The "secret" was to use dual banana plugs. Oh you youngsters!

kygeezer wrote:I beg to differ!  I used a PAT-5 with a Stereo120 for many years with Monster cable 12 or 10 gauge wire from amp to preamp and preamp to speakers. The "secret" was to use dual banana plugs. Oh you youngsters!

Wow, you're right - I just happen to have one nearby and sure enough. I must have stopped using the switch before I started using bananas.

doesn't anybody know how to use "google" ?

Google is always a first stop but nice to throw some things out to a community you kind of know and trust rather than sorting through a bunch of anonymous hooey and who knows what. Or maybe not I guess. No need to go all Grandpa Simpson. Now I am going to kick the cat.

don't kick the cat - and actually using these forums really is the best way to get accurate info from people

I have a Marantz 3300 with the same isolated speaker selection. On the Marantz it is fed by plain old speaker wire. Looks like the citation needs a DIN connector. Unless you really want to be able to switch speaker you might as well just ignore it

tubes4hifi wrote:don't kick the cat - and actually using these forums really is the best way to get
accurate info from people

THIS forum, yes.

There is a popular forum, name starts with "A," where the knowledge level is considerably lower.
Probably almost half the answers on that forum are based on hearsay and popular belief, not real
experience. The big craze over there for a while was 1970s Japanese receivers, which some would
have you believe could be made to sound about 35,746% better if you replaced all the capacitors.

Some were dumb enough to replace critically-specified capacitors in the FM tuners, after which
they would drift as the operating temperature changed...

This forum is the BEST I actually found it while Goggling audio tube amp kits over a year and a half ago and I check it every day.
I continue to be amazed at the level of expertise and willingness to help Dynaco owners of all skill levels over come basic to complex problems this forum is truly made up of some incredibly generous and talented people.
I bought an VTA ST-120 from Bob and have been one happy camper ever since! 
Thanks to all You know who you are!!!