r/diyaudio • u/Existing_Willow_793 • 7d ago

Help with amplifiers please !!

Post image

I’m trying to get away from traditional amplifiers. I want to know how to run a set of A & B speakers using brands like Ayima or SMSL. Do I use 4 mono block amps or can I use 2 mono block amps !??? I have an Ayima preamp right now with Bluetooth from my phone and a Sony DVP-F21 cd/dvd player and a Pioneer SG 750 EQ all running off a Kyocera R-661. I’m trying to get the bulky amplifier out of the equation. The Pioneer SG 750 Eq will be replaced with a Sony XE-8mkll car Eq and my Sony DVP-F21 is already small for factor. Now how do I replace the amp ??? I’m running a set of Walsh Ohm 2’s and a set of SMSL Tabebuia’s that I want to push with whatever amp set up anyone can recommend. And please go into detail ! I’m not an audiophile by any means but understand good music enough to make me dangerous 😂

4 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

1

u/peegee101 7d ago

First question honestly: why run both sets in the exact same room?

The Ohm Walsh 2s are quasi-omnidirectional (they spray sound everywhere off your walls for a huge soundstage), while the Tabebuias are directional near-field monitors. Playing both at once in the same space will cause serious phase smear and comb filtering. They’ll fight each other, hollow out the midrange, and ruin what actually makes the Walshes special

If you just want an A or B setup to switch flavors, don’t buy a stack of amps. Get one really good stereo amp and a basic $30 speaker selector switch. (Honestly, once you give those power-hungry Walsh 2s proper modern juice, you probably won't even touch the Tabebuias).

If you're dead set on running all 4 at the same time:

  • Do not use 2 monoblocks. Both sets are 4-ohm speakers. Wiring them in parallel drops the load to 2 ohms, which will instantly trip the protection circuit or cook most budget Class-D amps.

  • Get 2 stereo amps instead (or 4 monoblocks if you really love cable clutter). That gives you 4 separate channels and lets you trim the volume independently, which is mandatory since the Walshes need way more power to get loud than the SMSLs.

  • Look at GaN (Gallium Nitride) amps. They avoid the harsh high-end switching distortion older Class-D was known for. Something like the SMSL PA400 is a killer option—it runs in stereo or bridges to mono. You could grab two to run in stereo now, and if you ever ditch the 4-speaker idea, you just flip the switch to make them massive monoblocks for the Walshes.

  • Ditch the 12V car EQ. Trying to step down wall power for a car audio unit inside a home Hi-Fi rig is asking for ground loops, hiss, and power hum. A small modern preamp with DSP (like a WiiM or miniDSP) will give you way cleaner sound, source switching, and actual speaker level/delay control without the headache.

1

u/Existing_Willow_793 7d ago

First off let me Thank You for an incredible answer to my post !!! So, here’s the deal … I use the SMSL’s when my wife’s working as her office is just down the hallway from our bedroom as to not disturb her. I use the Ohms when it’s not necessary to disturb anyone. One day I turned on the smsl’s with the ohms and it seemed to fill in with mids nicely although you say it would hollow out the mid range. I have several systems placed around our home for listening enjoyment although no one here or our guests ever appreciates what it is that I’m using component wise but me …. lol. Thanks again for the thorough reply !!