speaker connection question

[henrylrjr]

I want to try a new amp with a pair of speakers that are connected to an amp with bare wire. Is it ok to leave the speakers connected to the existing amp, which will be turned off, and connect the new amp with banana plugs.

 

[Potentiallyincorrect]

No

 

[Cal Weldon]

Think of it in simple terms.
The power switch is the front door. You turn it off and it's locked.
What you are doing is going to the back door where there is no switch to shut things off and sending the second amplifier signal into the speaker leads of the first amp in the wrong direction.

 

[ALPUY]

If the amplifier connects its speakers via relay, it seems to me that it could be done since the output of the amplifier would be isolated from its speakers.

 

[henrylrjr]

Think of it in simple terms.
The power switch is the front door. You turn it off and it's locked.
What you are doing is going to the back door where there is no switch to shut things off and sending the second amplifier signal into the speaker leads of the first amp in the wrong direction.

This is how I thought about it. While the signal from the second amp would go to the speakers, it would also go from the speakers binding posts to the other turned off amp. I thought that might be bad for the turned off amp.

 

[Cal Weldon]

The smart guys here might be able to describe the actual repercussions.

 

[Havoc]

Nobody thinks that "bare wire" is a bad idea?

 

[ALPUY]

If the off amplifier switches the speakers via relay, there would be no interference. Make sure the amplifier is off when you turn on the other amplifier.
Be careful because there are amplifiers that do not have a final relay to switch their speakers. Example one I had Rotel RA970BX.
In any case, it doesn't cost anything to disconnect the amplifier and connect the other one.

 

[Cal Weldon]

Nobody thinks that "bare wire" is a bad idea?

I am reading screw head terminals, no cable connectors or easy off binding posts, therefore a hassle to undo and put back on.

 

[Havoc]

I'm reading that as uninsulated wire. Ok, you get rid of a (according to the purists) very unwanted di-electric but I prefer that to burning the place down.

 

[Cal Weldon]

I can’t see that being the case on any of those counts.

 

[rayma]

The smart guys here might be able to describe the actual repercussions.

Boom!

 

[Cal Weldon]

Bing, bong, bada, boom?
Magic smoke?

 

[rayma]

Be sure to make a video when you do that.
Everyone here loves to see stuff blown up. When it's not theirs.

 

[Potentiallyincorrect]

Or, you might get away with it. Your loss when it doesn’t. Seems a shame for such a gamble when avoiding the issue is trivial.

 

[rayma]

Getting away with it just instills false confidence.
Then, the next time, it will really blow.

 

[henrylrjr]

I will definitely disconnect the speakers from the primary amp before connecting them to a second amp.