Plans for Speaker Selectors + circuitry

[Schultz]

I'm Brand Newbie... Oobie-Dooby Kanoobie with two Big Questions.
Second question - does anyone have plans or information about building a speaker selector / switcher? Perhaps generic circuitry for such a thing?

It seems to me it should be both easy enough to and cheap to build very good quality circuitry for switching between speaker pairs and possibly also the source (switching amplifiers).

I've not done much homework on these yet, but here an AUDIOPLEX MS-8 8-PAIR SPEAKER SELECTOR from Parts-Express for $300. It makes claims that it draws no power but simply splits the power equally between speaker pairs - however many are switched on. http://www.************.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=302-226&ctab=14#Tabs

How many dollars would I realistically need to spend to DoThisMyself?

Much thanks for all input!
Schultz

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker selector

I would check out the $50-60 audioSource / Pheonix Gold version of that speaker selector. I doubt you could build something for much less then that.

 

[WmAx]

I'm Brand Newbie... Oobie-Dooby Kanoobie with two Big Questions.
Second question - does anyone have plans or information about building a speaker selector / switcher? Perhaps generic circuitry for such a thing?

It seems to me it should be both easy enough to and cheap to build very good quality circuitry for switching between speaker pairs and possibly also the source (switching amplifiers).

I've not done much homework on these yet, but here an AUDIOPLEX MS-8 8-PAIR SPEAKER SELECTOR from Parts-Express for $300. It makes claims that it draws no power but simply splits the power equally between speaker pairs - however many are switched on. http://www.************.com/pe/pshowdetl.cfm?&DID=7&Partnumber=302-226&ctab=14#Tabs

How many dollars would I realistically need to spend to DoThisMyself?

Much thanks for all input!
Schultz

The easiest way is to use a 4 pole(4 stacked) rotary selection switch. Use one on the input; this will allow selection of amplifier. Connect the output of the rotary switch to another one, that let's you select between speakers. Just be certain to get a rotary switch with sufficient current rating. Unfortunately, I can't seem to find 4 pole versions in my 5 minute Google expedition. 3 pole seems to be common, but not 4 pole. Look around some for one (10 Amps or more rating would ensure it will work well with any load). If you can not find one, you may end up having to build a switch using relays, which will increase the number of parts [and build time] significantly.

Note: If the amplifier switching ability is for amplifier comparisons, you need to make provision for level matching the amplifiers at line level within 0.1dB of each other, because human hearing is not linear(perceived frequency response changes with SPL).

-Chris

 

[Schultz]

Thanks to both samurai Wm & jc,

I checked out Phoenix Gold but think at this point I'll just go for a single rotary selection switch to wire my two amps to front speakers (this is the immediate need - speaker selection to come). I need no level matching, Chris - I just want to be able to switch source without re-wiring my speakers all the time.

This way I can test out a switch before really deciding to buy or build a swithcing box (although, I suspect it'll be Phoenix Gold in the long run).

 

[Fubar]

Gentleman I have two speaker cabinets (8ohms at 50-100watts ea) that I run with my Traynor guitar amplifier I am looking for a switch that will allow me by hand to switch to either cabinet or both........any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated

 

[highfigh]

Gentleman I have two speaker cabinets (8ohms at 50-100watts ea) that I run with my Traynor guitar amplifier I am looking for a switch that will allow me by hand to switch to either cabinet or both........any thoughts on the matter would be appreciated

You DO NOT want to switch a tube amp from one speaker to another when it's on. You can launch an output transformer really fast by doing that. Also, you need to make sure the combinations will present a safe load to the OT. They usually handle a +/- 100% range, so it it's made for an 8 Ohm load, it will handle 4 Ohms if you don't crank the crap out of it or a 16 Ohm load with no problems.

A couple of pedal manufacturers offer speaker switchers and they say the switching is sone so fast that there's no problem with using it for a tube amp but unless it's a make before break type, I would be careful. I think VooDoo Labs is one of them.

Tube amps will withstand a lot of abuse but I'm not a fan of pushing my luck with mine, which already had the speaker wires short at the jack and caused a carbon trace on one of the output tube sockets. Lit up the back wall when it did this, too. Very spectacular. I don't recommend doing this.