Okay, with regard to driving multiple power amps from a single pre amp - in this case an old and awesome NAD 3020 that has been decoupled by the removal of its pre/power bridging posts - may I do the following:

Run some rca splitters from the PRE-AMP OUT jacks on the 3020, sending one half of each channel to one power amp's MAIN IN terminal, and the other half of each channel to another power amp's MAIN IN terminal?

This way I would be feeding two separate power amps with the pre of the 3020.

Their claim in the original manual for the 3020, that "the preamp stage is capable of driving several power amplifiers in parallel" makes me think that it would be okay, but...?

Generally, you can use a single low-impedance line-level source to feed multiple high-impedance line-level inputs. The key is that the parallel inputs need to be high-impedance so they don't load down each other and cause weird interactions.

I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work.

Nate Dort wrote: Wed May 26, 2021 7:23 am Generally, you can use a single low-impedance line-level source to feed multiple high-impedance line-level inputs. The key is that the parallel inputs need to be high-impedance so they don't load down each other and cause weird interactions.

I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work.

Thanks FM Nate!

I just recently did this to split the output of my phono preamp to go into my Rega integrated and the Sonos Connect thing (so there's no lag between streaming to the kitchen speakers and going back through the Rega into the living room hifi). Didn't notice any appreciable change in quality, and everything I read said going from a line level source is fine.

Just putting this in the thread, from everything I've read you shouldn't split the signal coming directly from a turntable (say into two different phono preamps), as it'll mess with the impedance loading of the cartridge, etc.

Thanks tc,

A friend has recommended a passive splitter box just to guard against interference and to ensure send consistency, but I shall listen to see if I can hear any difference between the direct and spit signal first before I worry too much about bibs and bobs.

Anyhow, more speakers means more happy!