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Trending Lyricist I
January 27, 2023

two amps, one set of speakers?

Hello, I was wondering if I could to improve the quality of sound out of my large tower speakers by connecting my first Sonos amp to the lower speaker terminals at the back of the speaker, and then adding a second sonos amp and connecting those outputs to the upper terminals on the back of the same speakers. Has anyone done this? Did you get any measurable improvement?

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18 replies

RicohAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
January 27, 2023

I have one foot in both camps, I love music for what it is, but I'm also fascinated and intrigued by sound quality and the "feel" of the music. A powerful lower range is addicting, and Diana Krall is mesmerizing.

buzz
Grand Maestro
January 27, 2023

We can have similar discussions about cars, boats, and whatever. To me there are only two important characteristics with respect to cars. First. it gets me there on time. Second, I’m dry when I arrive. I appreciate that many other details are very important to other drivers. I suspect that some owners spend more time tweaking than driving their car. They simply enjoy different aspects of “car”.

RicohAuthor
Trending Lyricist I
January 27, 2023

You will be better served by using speaker wire of the correct copper core thickness for the length of the speaker cable run, and making sure that cable terminations are well done.

Speaking of wire, I’m due to upgrade. To drive two tower speakers with one Sonos amp, any advice for me?  14awg?  16awg?  obviously a clean quality connection is vital. thanks.

buzz
Grand Maestro
January 27, 2023

It’s an easy argument that fatter wire is better, but be sure to check the fattest wire accepted by the speaker and amplifier terminals.

Fat wire is stiffer and can pose a physical risk to the speaker terminals if the wire is flexed.

January 28, 2023

Speaking of wire, I’m due to upgrade. To drive two tower speakers with one Sonos amp, any advice for me?  14awg?  16awg?  obviously a clean quality connection is vital. thanks.

A link that gives all you need to know about speaker wire and selection of the thickness for the length of the run.

https://www.the-home-cinema-guide.com/speaker-wire.html

If terminal size is a constraint for a very long run needing thick wire, stranded wire should allow the ends to be made thinner by cutting some strands to the extent needed for the end to be inserted into the terminal. Obviously, you also don’t want it hanging down from the terminal loading the connection, so try to anchor it somewhere close to the terminal so that the anchor takes the weight of the cable run.

@buzz : Treating things as appliances - audio kit, cameras, cars - tends to also be an age thing. One grows out of the obsession with the finger pointing to the moon, instead of looking at the moon.

That said, I can still understand the thing with cars, or even cameras. They provide a on going and direct interface between the user and what they are being used for, when in use. Audio kit just sits there, passively, as far as the user is concerned, for over 99% of the time that it is doing what it is meant to do. Unlike, for example, a musical instrument such as a guitar - the latter being a better analogy for the cars or cameras thing.

January 28, 2023

I have one foot in both camps, I love music for what it is, but I'm also fascinated and intrigued by sound quality and the "feel" of the music. A powerful lower range is addicting, and Diana Krall is mesmerizing.

That is fine, as long as you understand that over 99% of the sound quality you hear is down to how well the performance was recorded, and how well your speakers interact with your room to deliver the result of that recording to you in that room.

Given a level of quality for all the other kit in the signal chain of course, a level that is quite easily obtainable these days for not a lot of money.

106rallye
January 28, 2023

I have one foot in both camps, I love music for what it is, but I'm also fascinated and intrigued by sound quality and the "feel" of the music. A powerful lower range is addicting, and Diana Krall is mesmerizing.

I still remember walking in to one of the listening rooms of an high end dealer maybe twenty years ago with Diana Krall playing on a Linn set up with a pair of electrostats. Almost brought tears to my eyes

January 28, 2023

I still remember walking in to one of the listening rooms of an high end dealer maybe twenty years ago with Diana Krall playing on a Linn set up with a pair of electrostats. Almost brought tears to my eyes

Almost certainly down to the Electrostats, especially if they were Quad units. All they needed was relatively low powered Quad amps to shine. The challenge was finding a room where they could be placed well into the room. And of course, the money to buy them!