Question About Daisy Chaining Amps

[Benjio]

Recently I got a Panasonic SA-PT760 sound-system/receiver type thing (used to part of an all in one sound system thing). I also have a Lepai 2020A+ amplifier and a pair of Micca MB42 speakers. What I was wondering is if I'd be able to connect the speaker output from the Panasonic (which is only rated for 3 ohm speakers) to the input of the Lepai (which is rated for 8 ohm speakers, which is what the Micca speakers are). I've read a few places that it doesn't work to put two amps together like this, and they will just fight with each other. But wouldn't this be the same as hooking up a computer's audio output to the Lepai, since the computer's sound card also has a built in amp? Or is the computer's amp so under-powered that it doesn't affect the other one? This whole topic is quite confusing to me, I'd appreciate any help.

[Askew]

Speaker output, no that's amplified, Line Out RCA out, yes.

[helping]

What exactly are you trying to do? If the Panasonic is rated for 3 ohm output, it can use 8 ohm speakers fine. 

[Benjio]

Speaker output, no that's amplified, Line Out RCA out, yes.

It doesn't have RCA out, but it does have a headphone jack out, which should technically work the same as RCA, correct?

 

What exactly are you trying to do? If the Panasonic is rated for 3 ohm output, it can use 8 ohm speakers fine. 

It's a bit complicated, but I'm trying to find a way to use the radio/cd player on the Panasonic, but have it go to my amp so that I don't have to make two different sets of speaker cables. I think I may have also been a bit confused on the resistance as well.

[Askew]

It doesn't have RCA out, but it does have a headphone jack out, which should technically work the same as RCA, correct?

 

Correct, but it won't be line level volume if there's a volume knob next to it, you'll have to find a happy setting and leave it there.

[Benjio]

Correct, but it won't be line level volume if there's a volume knob next to it, you'll have to find a happy setting and leave it there.

I'll still be able to control the volume on the Lepai amp though, right?

[Askew]

I'll still be able to control the volume on the Lepai amp though, right?

 

Yes.

[Benjio]

Yes.

Alright, thanks for clearing all that up for me. 

[helping]

It doesn't have RCA out, but it does have a headphone jack out, which should technically work the same as RCA, correct?

 

It's a bit complicated, but I'm trying to find a way to use the radio/cd player on the Panasonic, but have it go to my amp so that I don't have to make two different sets of speaker cables. I think I may have also been a bit confused on the resistance as well.

Yes and no. The headphone jack is absolutely amplified and not at line level. A preamp output is preferred, but it can be used. Set the volume below 80% but above 50%. If there is still distortion lower the volume until it sounds "correct" 

 

I'm still kind of confused. Are you trying to listen to your PC out of these speakers and play your stereo through the same speakers as well? 

 

..it seems like you're overcomplicating this unless I'm missing something. 

[Askew]

Yes and no. The headphone jack is absolutely amplified and not at line level. A preamp output is preferred, but it can be used. Set the volume below 80% but above 50%. If there is still distortion lower the volume until it sounds "correct" 

 

I'm still kind of confused. Are you trying to listen to your PC out of these speakers and play your stereo through the same speakers as well? 

 

..it seems like you're overcomplicating this unless I'm missing something. 

 

From what I gather, he wants to only have his speakers connected to his discrete amp, but he still wants to be able to use the radio/CD features of his AV receiver, despite the receiver being amped no speakers are connected to it.

 

The thing missing is the reason why he doesn't just connect the speakers to the receiver's amp.

[helping]

From what I gather, he wants to only have his speakers connected to his discrete amp, but he still wants to be able to use the radio/CD features of his AV receiver, despite the receiver being amped no speakers are connected to it.

 

The thing missing is the reason why he doesn't just connect the speakers to the receiver's amp.

But then why bother with the Lepai amp? The receiver isn't high end, but it would most likely do a better job. 

 

If you still want to use it, I suppose you could try running preamp RCA out to 3.5mm input to PC with 'Listen to device' and then PC to Lepai. 

[Askew]

But then why bother with the Lepai amp? The receiver isn't high end, but it would most likely do a better job. 

 

I don't know, maybe it was passed down to him by his father, who had it passed down to him by his father, who had it passed to him in a candy store by a chimpanzee named Robert.

[Benjio]

Yes and no. The headphone jack is absolutely amplified and not at line level. A preamp output is preferred, but it can be used. Set the volume below 80% but above 50%. If there is still distortion lower the volume until it sounds "correct" 

 

I'm still kind of confused. Are you trying to listen to your PC out of these speakers and play your stereo through the same speakers as well? 

 

..it seems like you're overcomplicating this unless I'm missing something. 

 

From what I gather, he wants to only have his speakers connected to his discrete amp, but he still wants to be able to use the radio/CD features of his AV receiver, despite the receiver being amped no speakers are connected to it.

 

The thing missing is the reason why he doesn't just connect the speakers to the receiver's amp.

Sorry for confusing you guys, I probably should've been a bit more clear to begin with. The receiver has proprietary speaker outputs, so I wanted to avoid hooking the speakers directly up to it (I probably could get it to work with some alligator clips or something, but it would be easier to just use my amp). I also want to be able to switch between audio from my PC and audio from the receiver without too much work. Also I bought the amp before I got the Panasonic receiver in order to power the speakers, but just got the receiver for free yesterday at a rummage sale. Do you guys think it would be worth it to try and wire my PC up to the RCA inputs of the receiver and then try and get a connection from the proprietary speaker outputs to my speakers?

[Askew]

Sorry for confusing you guys, I probably should've been a bit more clear to begin with. The receiver has proprietary speaker outputs, so I wanted to avoid hooking the speakers directly up to it (I probably could get it to work with some alligator clips or something, but it would be easier to just use my amp). I also want to be able to switch between audio from my PC and audio from the receiver without too much work. Also I bought the amp before I got the Panasonic receiver in order to power the speakers, but just got the receiver for free yesterday at a rummage sale. Do you guys think it would be worth it to try and wire my PC up to the RCA inputs of the receiver and then try and get a connection from the proprietary speaker outputs to my speakers?

 

You can solve the situation by experimentation, I believe you now possess the required information, I hate to be a cunt but I've lost interest in this madness now. :lol:

 

I've had all kinds of frankenstein's monster audio setups before, you just experiment and then the way is found.

[Benjio]

You can solve the situation by experimentation, I believe you now possess the required information, I hate to be a cunt but I've lost interest in this madness now. :lol:

 

I understand, I've had all kinds of frankenstein's monster audio setups before, you just experiment and then the way is found.

I understand haha, I wanted to try and avoid all the confusion at first by leaving it out, which I guess did get me my answer. I will go ahead and experiment with both solutions and see which works out better. I appreciate the help.

[Askew]

I understand haha, I wanted to try and avoid all the confusion at first by leaving it out, which I guess did get me my answer. I will go ahead and experiment with both solutions and see which works out better. I appreciate the help.

 

No probs, I doubt you'll get stuck again, but like myself said and @helping has explained better is that when you want an amp to pass sound to another, it's always preferred to use a line level audio out (normally RCA) or a digital pass, although a headphone socket will work as a bodge it's not ideal because it is amplified, just not as much as the speaker outs.

[Benjio]

No probs, I doubt you'll get stuck again, but like myself said and @helping has explained better is that when you want an amp to pass sound to another, it's always preferred to use a line level audio out (normally RCA) or a digital pass, although a headphone socket will work as a bodge it's not ideal because it is amplified, just not as much as the speaker outs.

Thanks for the clarification. Another question quick if you don't mind: would hooking up alligator clips to the speaker wires and then hooking them onto the speaker out pins degrade the audio quality at all? I wouldn't imagine it would, but then again I'm not the most intelligent when it comes to audio. Here's an image of the proprietary speaker outputs: 

[Askew]

Thanks for the clarification. Another question quick if you don't mind: would hooking up alligator clips to the speaker wires and then hooking them onto the speaker out pins degrade the audio quality at all? I wouldn't imagine it would, but then again I'm not the most intelligent when it comes to audio. Here's an image of the proprietary speaker outputs: 

 

Some people will tell you that it would, those people are largely full of shit.

 

Just use copper clips and you're gravy.