Speaker Selectors?

[jcmanic]

Give me your thoughts. Any recommendations on a particular type?

I have a great amp, and would like to hook multiple speakers to it for different purposes, and possibly even drive multiple sets at the same time as well. Is a speaker selector the way to go? Anything out there that doesnt degrade the signal?

[Fred Sanford]

There are a LOT of posts on this subject, with some good info. Tried the search function, it seems to be flaking. Might be nice to get a sticky for this question.

If I dig up info or past posts I'll let you know. My short answer is that in 25+ years of testing them, the ones that allow multiple pairs to play at one time never sound good to me. Loss of stereo seperation, loss of highs, loss of level, etc. I personally use them for testing and for outdoor speakers, that's about it. They add lots of things into the signal path- connectors, switches, resistors, volume controls, more connections...you get the picture. I currently own Niles, Adcom, Radio Shack, and maybe some others.

ProCo makes a few good ones that handle high power & heavy gauge cables and are well-built and only allow one speaker pair at a time. Custom-made switchers for audio showrooms are also out there.

je

[Fred Sanford]

Here's one:

http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=149542#post1771444

je

[Wolverine]

Well I just picked up an Adcom on E-pay for less than $35 and it seems okay though I can't really say if I'd use it with my main speakers. Right now I am using it in the garage and which has got odd accoustics so I can't say for sure if it is the selector or the room. Unless you go real high end I am not sure you can really run multiple sets through a selector w/o having some effect on SQ.

[tecrench]

With multi channel whole house dist amps/control systems getting more reasonable...