2 amps Question

[panther]

I have a quad vena 2 amp with a pre out. I also have a Schiit ragnarok 2 just an amp. I don’t currently have a dac for this and was going to use the quad from my pc as a dac. However I was wondering can I connect just one speaker to the Schiit amp to hear the left channel and connect one to the quad to just listen to them at the same time. I feel like o read about not connecting two dacs directly to one amp before and was wondering if it’s a similar issue.

 

[MAB]

I have a quad vena 2 amp with a pre out. I also have a Schiit ragnarok 2 just an amp. I don’t currently have a dac for this and was going to use the quad from my pc as a dac. However I was wondering can I connect just one speaker to the Schiit amp to hear the left channel and connect one to the quad to just listen to them at the same time. I feel like o read about not connecting two dacs directly to one amp before and was wondering if it’s a similar issue.

The Quad will work fine as a DAC, and yes the preamp-out of the Quad can feed the Ragnarok, and you can use the Ragnarok to drive any speaker you want to drive. Why do you want to drive the left speaker with one amp and the right with another? I am missing something here.

 

[panther]

The Quad will work fine as a DAC, and yes the preamp-out of the Quad can feed the Ragnarok, and you can use the Ragnarok to drive any speaker you want to drive. Why do you want to drive the left speaker with one amp and the right with another? I am missing something here.

I just wanted to a/b the left and right channels between the amps while I have them both out on my desk.

 

[Doodski]

I just wanted to a/b the left and right channels between the amps while I have them both out on my desk.

You'll need to run mono and level match them so you don't get fooled by a small difference in power output. Do you have a multimeter?

 

[Apesbrain]

"Your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."

 

[MAB]

I just wanted to a/b the left and right channels between the amps while I have them both out on my desk.

You will have to get the levels matched. Use a voltmeter. I would probably not do a/b with a stereo signal, since the signal is different. I gave up trying to listen for substantial differences between amps a few decades ago. I have an antique tube amp with audible frequency response, but it is hooked up to a fullrange speaker in an antique console. I guess I can hear the differences between noise between amps using some really sensitive compression drivers, but that's a bit of a corner case.

 

[Doodski]

I would probably not do a/b with a stereo signal, since the signal is different.

If @panther is using a RCA splitter then he could split either the left or right channel and use the same channel on both speakers simultaneously. That will solve the mono requirement that we usually recommend.

 

[panther]

I don't have a multimeter or voltmeter. It was more of a spur of the moment thought then anything else, I mostly didn't want a smoke show starting in my office for some reason.

 

[Doodski]

I don't have a multimeter or voltmeter. It was more of a spur of the moment thought then anything else, I mostly didn't want a smoke show starting in my office for some reason.

OK... Then if you want to go ahead with the test you'll level match by ear. It won't be a proper test but you'll get the idea of the sound from both. I predict that you won't hear any difference worth considering. I've compared multiple hundreds of quality models of amps using a 40 input switcher and I could only hear a difference from a inexpensive STK type amp that is rated for only 8 Ohms speaker impedance and also when switching from a ~50 W/ch amp to a 120 W/ch amp and that required a little bit more of a difficult to drive speaker(s) in order to point out a difference.

 

[panther]

Ah thanks for the advice regardless. I didn’t want to go into what I think I hear between dacs or amps, I mostly just didn’t want to wreck something on my friends amp I was trying out.