Arkay
Lunatic Member
Very impressive rack/system! :thmbsp:
I have three big switcher boxes, and used to have some of my favorite gear connected to one of them, and a couple pieces connected to another. Since moving recently, though, the bulk of my gear is now in paid storage which has no electrical supply to the storage space, so they're being stored vertically (like books on library shelves) without being hooked up. :sigh: Even the switchers are sitting there, vertically on a shelf, for about two years, until I plan to move back to larger premises. I almost got rid of them, but the thought that I'll probably have space again before TOO long, and how hard they can be to find when you want one, made me keep them, at least for now. They're really useful for keeping gear in regular "rotation" without having to lug heavy boxes around, and for preliminary testing of gear match-ups for potential synergies. I wouldn't use one in the "main" system, though. Every additional contact (switch, plug, etc...) is a possible source of diminished sound, so switchers are best for secondary systems and collections (like yours), not the "ultimate" one.
I find it odd that they're expensive on eBay; local prices here are very cheap now, IF (/when) you can find one. Demand used to come from dealers, but now they're all using digital connectors (HDMI, etc...), so the old-style analog-connection switchers are unwanted. There was some supply when the dealers were converting, but by now no one is selling (new) analog stuff in enough quantities to justify one.
I have three big switcher boxes, and used to have some of my favorite gear connected to one of them, and a couple pieces connected to another. Since moving recently, though, the bulk of my gear is now in paid storage which has no electrical supply to the storage space, so they're being stored vertically (like books on library shelves) without being hooked up. :sigh: Even the switchers are sitting there, vertically on a shelf, for about two years, until I plan to move back to larger premises. I almost got rid of them, but the thought that I'll probably have space again before TOO long, and how hard they can be to find when you want one, made me keep them, at least for now. They're really useful for keeping gear in regular "rotation" without having to lug heavy boxes around, and for preliminary testing of gear match-ups for potential synergies. I wouldn't use one in the "main" system, though. Every additional contact (switch, plug, etc...) is a possible source of diminished sound, so switchers are best for secondary systems and collections (like yours), not the "ultimate" one.
I find it odd that they're expensive on eBay; local prices here are very cheap now, IF (/when) you can find one. Demand used to come from dealers, but now they're all using digital connectors (HDMI, etc...), so the old-style analog-connection switchers are unwanted. There was some supply when the dealers were converting, but by now no one is selling (new) analog stuff in enough quantities to justify one.