RCA Y-splitter into Power Amp

[sakujou]

Hello everyone,

I am aware that the RCA splitter and switch box issue has been debated many times, but I have a more unconventional case. I am sure it has been discussed somwhere online, I just can't find any info.

Basically I have an AVR (PC/PS4>AVR>power amp) and a pre-amp (PC>DAC>preamp>power amp), working independently of each other, but I want to connecet them both to the same power amp, powering the same speakers.

The problem is that the power amp has only one pair of RCA inputs.

So would it be OK to use a hard metal RCA Y-splitter (like the ones from audioquest or other companies, sorry but still can not post links in the forum, because I am a new member)?

A pair of Y-splitters would be plugged in the L & R RCA inputs of the power amp, so that both my AVR & preamp are connected at the same time.

Something like this:

PC>AVR> Y-splitter>power amp
PC>DAC>preamp>Y-splitter>power amp

Obviously I would not want to have music playing through both devices at the same time, but since they are both connected to a PC... you never know if there would be some signal creeping in. And this is my worry.
How would the power amp react if there is some signal coming from both the AVR and the preamp at the same time?
What about input impedance and stuff like that?
Maybe some other issue I am not aware of, even if one of the devices is not playing/outputting anything or is even off?

I would greatly appreciate any help on the matter.

P.S. I know that a more simple solution might be a RCA switchbox, I am just investigating if it can be avoided, since switchboxes/selector usually involve wires and are more complex vs the simple metal RCA Y-splitter. And I already have one switchbox after my DAC, so that it's output goes both in the preamp and a separate headphone amp. I do not want to introduce more switchboxes if possible.

P.S. 2 The best solution would be a preamp with a HT bypass, so that the AVR goes through the preamp as well, I am aware. But preamps with this function would limit my choice of a preamp, especially in my area (Eastern Europe).

 

[Leemix]

Dont do it, either get a switchbox, HT bypass pre or power off and swap rca cables.
I use a HT bypass pre/dac. Its not optimal but might be the lesser evil unless you want to manually change connections a lot.


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[ski2xblack]

If the AVR has the requisite inputs for all your sources, why not just use that as your sole pre-amp? Is there some functional utility that the external DAC and stereo pre-amp bring that the AVR does not?

 

[BMXTRIX]

I agree that I would get a RCA switcher if you were going this route. Lots of cheap ones out there on Amazon, but I would go for better quality because that's the only reason that would explain your weird setup...
https://www.rdlnet.com/product.php?page=543#!prettyPhoto

That said, I'm also more on board with the second question of why you would do this in the first place.

 

[lovinthehd]

Some background info in his other thread https://forums.audioholics.com/forums/threads/avr-pre-out-to-tube-amp.113381/

 

[sakujou]

lovinthehd, thanks for digging around, but maybe I should have mentioned this is a different setup. The Yaqin integrated mentioned in my other thread is not used atm.
In this case the AVR is a Denon X3300, the preamp an old NAD C160 and the power amp is a Lyngdorf SDA 2175.

ski2xblack, the reason for doing this is that the AVR's preamp section sounds worse (in PureDirect, other modes are even worse) even than the old NAD preamp. Also I plan on upgrading the NAD with a tube preamp in the near future.
There are some secondary reasons as well, like the exterior DAC (SMSL M8A) being again of higher quality than the AVR's DAC (not that in this case I can 100% verify that, to my hearing if there is an actual improvement it is more subtle), supporting native DSD (again - questionable benefits tbh), allowing me to hook up the headphone amp (which the AVR does not allow), etc. But that is not entirely related to this RCA switching issue.

BMXTRIX, yeah, I am considering adding another switch. The thing is - there already is one switchbox in the DAC to pre-amp chain (helping with the hook up of the headphone amp) and I wanted to avoid having a switch, therefor I was opting for the more simple solution with the hard RCA Y-splitter.
Y-RCA = simple metal; no wires;
VS
Switchbox = circuits; even wires in some cases; not to mention attentuators and additional gain in some; overall more complex.
But I guess a switchbox might be the safer way to go in the end.

Leemix, any particular reason why not to do the Y-RCA splitter?

My point is overall I just want to make sure if there is some scientific explanation why I could damage the power amp by accidentaly feeding it 2 signals at the same time (1 from AVR, 1 from preamp) and/or degrading audio quality more, because of the 2 outputs (preamp + AVR) being hooked up to the power amp at the same time, having higher load, resistance, or I do not know what else.

A lot of thanks to everyone! I really appreciate all the help, suggestions and information.

 

[lovinthehd]

lovinthehd, thanks for digging around, but maybe I should have mentioned this is a different setup. The Yaqin integrated mentioned in my other thread is not used atm.
In this case the AVR is a Denon X3300, the preamp an old NAD C160 and the power amp is a Lyngdorf SDA 2175.

Thought you had just changed plans a bit I wouldn't take a risk that the two pre-amps and amp would be powered simultaneously, I do believe I've read this is not a good idea. I'd just switch inputs to the amp myself, but I'd not do what you're doing long term at all, I'd just dig out another pair of speakers to hook up.