Connect Multiple Amplifiers One Source

There are plenty of occasions where you need to rely on more than one amplifier to fulfill your needs. You may be in need of connecting one amplifier with your speakers and the second one with your subwoofers. Depending upon the audio system and its circuit you can connect multiple amps to a single source.

Before getting started with connecting multiple amps you need to know that the methods to connect multiple amplifiers vary from system to system (audio system). Depending upon the audio system you need to know about the input and output types of the system and then choose the method that suits your requirements best.

For instance, if your audio system is using a 3.5mm jack on both terminals then your amplifier should also be connected using the AUX cables.

Why Do We Require To Connect Multiple Amplifiers One Source?

Does the query arise as to why do we need to add multiple amplifiers? Is one amplifier not good enough for the cause?

The answer to this question lies in your need and purpose. If you are looking forward to hearing better sound then adding two or more amps can be considered helpful as they are known to enhance the sound quality.

If you want to increase the loudness of the speakers or subs attached to your audio system then you can connect multiple amps as well as multiple speakers to create a cinematic or home theater-like sound.

You must have experience in high-quality premium home theaters where multiple speakers and subwoofers are used all these external audio devices seem to be connected to a single audio source that is most frequently a soundbar. In making this exclusive audio system with a soundbar, speakers, subwoofers, and smart TV screens, you need to use multiple amplifiers to channel various audio routes.

You can also use multiple amplifiers to improve the working of an old and worn-out amp than is connected to your audio circuit. Instead of totally removing this old amplifier you can add value to it and enhance the sound quality and intensity by connecting a new amplifier with the older one.

Now that you are fully accustomed to the need and purpose of connecting multiple amplifiers to a single unit or single source, you should be in pursuit of how to do so. Below given are the four well-versed methods that are tested to establish the best connections without any loops and loose ends.

Four Methods To Connect Multiple Amplifiers One Source:

The four methods are explained in detail with the hardware requirements and the type of audio system that best suits the method. You can select any one of these four methods according to the requirements and convenience of the application.

METHOD 1:

This method is best suited for those system units that have preamp outputs. The head unit (source unit) is coming with multiple preamp heads and these heads can be used to house the amplifiers.

You can consider this as the audio circuit where the amplifier ports are already designated and you just have to plug in the amplifier in the circuit. But the number of amps depends upon the total number of preamp heads that are located on the head unit.

Most typical audio head units have a single preamp output and therefore can only house one amplifier but you can also purchase a head unit with multiple preamp outputs and connect as many amplifiers as your system support.

METHOD 2:

If your head unit doesn’t have multiple preamp outputs, then you can rely on the internal wiring to connect multiple amplifiers to one source. This method is rather complex and will not be convenient for you if you don’t have any technical expertise or know hoe of technical internal wiring.

For this method to be functional you need to have a preamp pass-through function in your head unit or the amplifier.

The pass-through preamp functionality is common to almost all internal wiring units and this functionality can be used to connect two or more amplifiers.

To use pass-through output functionality you would have to connect the pass-through output to the first amplifier and this preamp output to the second amplifier. Similarly, you can connect the third, and the fourth amplifiers by connecting the pass-through output with the former and the preamp output to the latter one. In this way, multiple amplifiers can be connected to a single source.

METHOD 3:

The first method is suitable for the systems with multiple head units while the second one is helpful for the systems with pass-through output functionality. But what would you do if you don’t have both of these facilities in your source system? If your audio head unit doesn’t support the multiple preamp units and doesn’t have the pass-through outputs then you can rely on the Y adapter.

The Y adapter is familiar to the masses as splitter cables. This is the most common approach to using two or more amps on a single head unit with single preamp output. The splitter cable will divide this single preamp output into one and you can connect one amplifier in each socket.

You can also plug a splitter cable in the divided preamp output to make four or more preamp outputs by using three or more splitter cables. The downside of this method is that it can weaken the audio signal by splitting it into multiple channels.

METHOD 4:

If none of the aforementioned methods work for you, then you can make use of the speaker level input and connect the speaker wires directly with the amplifier and head unit. This method will require a line output converter (LOC) that will give you speaker level input and one cable can be used to connect a speaker with the amplifier that will be directly connected using the LOC to the amplifier.

Final Words:

See More:

How To Change Volume And Channel On Vizio TV Without Remote

How To Connect Sonos To An iPhone

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