Amplifier switching?

[doctorjuggles]

Need a bit of help/advice on something.
For some reason, you can buy countless switches that enable you to switch from one amp to several pairs of speakers, but I can't find a single product that allows me to use the same speakers but for two amps (one stereo, one AV)

Is there a way around this problem, or will I just have to have two sets of speaker cables and switch them over manually every time I want to switch between AV and stereo?

By the way, I know you can use an AV amp's pre-outs and have the stereo amp driving the fronts and the AV handling surround, but I don't want to do that.

Any advice?
Cheers

[mr_seanstanley]

here you go.
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?...witch&doy=29m5

[doctorjuggles]

Thanks mr_seanstanley.
Tried checking around under those search parameters and Maplin seems to be the only place that sells anything of that sort, which surprised me considering the general opinion that AV and stereo setups should be kept separate. I'd have thought a few higher quality options would have been available.

Anyway, I've ordered one, so we'll see how it goes.

Thanks again

[mr_seanstanley]

You're more than welcome. I was using one of those for about 2 years. the switches started to go towards the end but this isnt bad considering that the switch was used 2-3 times a day.
Ive never seen another design like it which is a bit odd. a niche in the market there for one of the cable companies to come along and make a high quality one i think!
lets hope they watch the forums....

[proux]

Do you mind if I ask why you don't want to use the pre-amp from the AV for stereo? I am looking at switching an old AV-amp to something better, but some suggest that separate amps with this pathway might be better. It sound tricky to me and I am no expert, which is why I would be interested in your thoughts! Thanks

[doctorjuggles]

Originally Posted by proukakis

Do you mind if I ask why you don't want to use the pre-amp from the AV for stereo?

Two reasons.
Firstly, I don't like the stereo sound out of the AV receiver, and therefore don't trust anything going through it for stereo purposes. I know the signal is supposed to be untouched, but if the signal doesn't need to travel that far then I'd rather avoid it.
Secondly, I don't really see the point of having both the amp and the AV receiver on permanently all the time every time I want to watch TV or listen to music. While the cost of the electricity might not be that much extra, what's the point in having every piece of electronics in the house on just to watch the news? It just seems like overkill to me.

But the main thing was the first point. I want two separate systems, one for AV, one for stereo. I don't want either of them pretending they can do the other's job. When I'm listening to music, I'll have the stereo setup working and when I'm watching TV or a movie, it's the AV receiver.

[proux]

Thanks, sounds sensible, I am not sure what to go for myself. At any rate, I have such a basic DVD/CD player, that adding a proper CD player through the AV might just be enough to make me happy!

[thedude]

i use the preouts on my Av Amp to my stereo amp sounds good on stereo with the "straight" button activated. However the only reason and real reason should be for listening to CDs or Radio and i use just my stereo amp for that and turn the AV amp off when i want to do that.
Thats my personal opinion and works well for me

[FrancisG]

Is it easy to balance the AV sound levels of each speaker. When set up, does adjusting the master volume on the AV amp adjust the out levels to the Stereo amp?
Does auto set up feature on the AV amp still work, even sending the signal for the fronts through the Stereo amp ?