How to connect 2nd amp to power patio spkrs

[HiFiGator]

I'm setting up an extra pair of speakers on my patio. I have an old ADCOM GFA535 amp that I would like to use to power the patio speakers. My problem is that my receiver doesn't have a second zone. Therefore I will feed the speakers the output from the tape out on my receiver, which is fixed line output. I'm putting a volume control in the speaker line between the Adcom & patio speakers. However, the Adcom will always be fed the loudest signal from the tape out on the receiver, right? Would I be risking damaging my amp by always feeding it a fixed signal versus a variable one from a pre/pro setup? Am I worried about nothing, or my understanding of fixed line output is all wrong..

Thanks in advance for the help...

 

[HiFiGator]

"Knock, knock, knock. Is anybody out there?"

Anybody, somebody????

 

[Alex2507]

It gets slow on the weekends but I'll give you my best guess and then somebody will have to straighten us both out. The tape out is a 200mv signal that can't be amped up to be of any quality because it's a recipe for a low signal to noise ratio or something ... I think. If I'm right I would be amazed but I think I'm close.

 

[markw]

You can split the preamp signal with a pair of simple "Y" connectors and send one side to your normal power amp and the other to your "patio" power amp.

Your preamp will control both speakers at the same time.

If your "patio" amps an integrated amp with it's own controls, a "tape out" signal could be fed to a "tape in" on your "patio" integrated. That way you could set it independently from your main system, aside from source selection.

If it doesn't have a tape in, you could use any high-level (aux) input as well.

Remember, nobody is paid to be here or answer questions. People check in when time permits for fun, not out of a sense of duty.

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

Would I be risking damaging my amp by always feeding it a fixed signal versus a variable one from a pre/pro setup?

No. If that were true, you’d risk damaging the amp anytime a variable signal from a pre-pro matched the level what the tape out is sending.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[HiFiGator]

Remember, nobody is paid to be here or answer questions. People check in when time permits for fun, not out of a sense of duty.[/QUOTEI
I didn't insinuate that someone had to answer out of a sense of duty and/or fee... I hate I asked a question...

Thanks guys for your input...

 

[markw]

Not a problem.

Remember, nobody is paid to be here or answer questions. People check in when time permits for fun, not out of a sense of duty.

I didn't insinuate that someone had to answer out of a sense of duty and/or fee... I hate I asked a question...

Thanks guys for your input...

At least give everyone a chance to read and answer it before bumping it to the top again.

You could wait more than 12 hours, or one-half of a day, before bumping it up. That's pretty much demanding an answer.

Now, if that little bit of chastisement really bothered you that much that you are really "sorry you asked a question", welcome to the real world. Believe it or not, it doesn't revolve around you. But, hey, you got the answer you wanted so why should you care?

I guess we'll see ya in about another two years when you have another question.

 

[Alex2507]

What about getting me straightehed out? Mark, get back here ...

I quoted this to show he doesn't have a pre outs.

my receiver doesn't have a second zone. Therefore I will feed the speakers the output from the tape out on my receiver

So Marks suggestion can't happen.

You can split the preamp signal

Unless tape out and pre out are the same thing.

a "tape out" signal could be fed to a "tape in" on your "patio" integrated. That way you could set it independently from your main system, aside from source selection.

So the tape out can be set independently like a zone 2 source? I thought Tape Out on a rec'r just enabled you to daisy chain the Tape In signal.

If it doesn't have a tape in, you could use any high-level (aux) input as well.

My understanding is that tape in is a line level in like any other ... other than a phono input which has a RIAA EQ curve applied to it.

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I thought a regular pre out signal was around 1 volt and sometimes an S Convert like a Samson was needed to bump that up to 1.4 or more volts if certain pro amps were to be used because of a hiss caused by having a signal of too low a voltage.

I thought a tape out was 200mV ... is that 0.2 Volts?
Anyway, that would be of a way too low voltage to be useful to an amp. Wouldn't a hiss be produced because of using too low a voltage as in the above example requiring an S Convert?

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Now I'm going to make a coffee, Mark, and if I don't have an answer when I get back I am going to get your number so that I can reach you without having to go through all this anonymous forum stuff. You better have like a Blackberry.

Wayne or anybody else is welcome to help Mark in getting me to understand this properly. That would get him off the hook ... this time.

Hey HFG, don't run off. Grow a bit of a thicker skin ... the cogity old ones are pretty helpful if you can bear with a little crankiness from time to time. They know about the forgotten connection secrets from out of time.

 

[markw]

A tape-out and a pre-out are not the same thing.

They are taken from two distinctly different parts in the signal chain.

A "Tape Out" is taken from after the source selector and before the volume control. No other processing is done, aside from a phono preamp. I'm not sure that they do digital signals but I could be wrong.

A "Pre Out" comes after all the preamp/processing stages and before the power amp.

Let's start from the back:

A "pre-out" takes the signal after it's gone through the entire preamp stage. That means source selection has been done, the volume control has done it's thing, any tone controls have been applied, additional gain may have. been applied, and any other stuff the preamp does, well, has been done.

Now, let's talk about that source selection and "may have" stuff.

Generally, aside from a phono preamp, no gain takes place before the volume control, which comes after the source selection.

And, a true "tape out" routes the signal between the source selector and before the volume control. Aside from a phono preamp, the tape out sends out the full signal that's available from the source. I can't really say about it's internal tuner or processor, but many external sources such as CD's are capable of putting out 1-2 volts or thereabouts.

In any case, many power amps should not have a problem with it, as long as they have enough gain and internal means of controlling the volume, which many don't, which is the rub here. Both speakers will be operating at the same level on the volume control,. Remember, it's not a "zone" type situation with either of the choices he's offered us.

As for an external "integrated" amp, it's going in through a high-level input and through it's internal preamp anyway so many concerns about signal level disappear.

Iffin's it were me, I'd use a tape out and feed it to an integrated amp/receiver simply to have independent control over those additional speakers. One may need more juice there as opposed to the main speakers.

Of course, most units have provisions for two sets of speakers anyway and that could be a poor man's way out of the entire situation.

Let's hope this gets the monkey off my back.

And good luck tracking me down. I'm posting from The Bahamas.

 

[Alex2507]

And good luck tracking me down. I'm posting from The Bahamas.

Oh man, tomorrow is suppose to be like 90+ degrees here and what I wouldn't do to be able to drink one of those coco frio drinks in a coconut shell with an umbrella just swimming in rum and topped off with more rum (151 proof). It's just this kind of exuberance for being altered that has led to my present clarity of mind ... except for my inability to instantly grasp what you just wrote. I still appreciate it and will work on 'getting it'.

Just remember ... no socks with sandals.