Any other source besides Audioplex?

Niles used to make them. I have several I would sell cheap.

I have used the Buffy by Audioplex but the one amp still distorts slightly when the second amp is turned off (most amps short their inputs when turned off for some reason.)To my understanding this is what the "Buffy" y jack is supposed to get rid of but doesnot seem to.Anyone had experience with this problem and how do you remedy it??


Scoop

I don't know anything about buffered "Y" cables but if you are splitting the output then you need to follow the 10 to 1 impedance rule. When you get distortion like that it's because you've loaded down the output too heavily and it's time for a proper distribution amp.

Channel Vision 3107: 15K ohm RCA female to RCA male audio "Y" compensator. Used when splitting one audio source for use with two separate audio receivers. Prevents volume draw and noise

I have never used one, and it seems that they're about $4, alot cheaper than the "BUFFY"

Scoop, it's not that the inputs get shorted; if they did, you'd get zero signal. What happens is that transistors become diodes when the power supply rail is unpowered, and diodes cause waveform distortion.

The distortion would be much worse if the 'diode' were connected to the input jack without passive components (resistors, capacitors) in the signal path. Look at an amp schematic next time you have the chance.

Larry
www.fineelectricco.com

I agree with Ted. Use a Distribution Amp. This is why the audio gods invented them.

BTW how much do they charge for this "Buffy" cable? I suspect it is just a Y cable with resistors.

Brian

I appreciate you input, but dist. amps are a costly fix. We need to redirect several whole house video sources to play through the internal speakers at each plasma instead of the ceiling speakers. Now wait, I am firmly opposed to this, but that is the clients request, and they are always right. Currently 5 or 6 video sources are switched through a Crestron P-vids,2- Bi-pad 8's(utilizing 15 zones already).So the thought is to split pad 8 outs to both the audio amps and the plasmas. I do realize a third pad 8 would be the right way. But cost, rack space, power consumtion issues will prohibit this

The BIPAD8s' Cat-5 audio outputs could be used for the plasmas' audio...

Tony, the only Cat 5 to each plasma is already used for RMC's to provide HDTV to each monitor. HD was an after thought.

The RMC's only use the first three pairs for HD -- you could use the fourth for mono analog audio, or digital stereo, with a digital to analog convertor...

Yes I am aware mono would be unacceptable.

Okay... last try. You said the Cat-5's already in use for the video, but there must also be other available cables, for use with the Y-adapters. So...

The BIPAD8's Cat-5 outputs do not *have* to be used with Cat-5 cable. Whatever cables you planned to use with the Y-adapters could be connected to the Cat-5 outputs...

Also -- have you *tried* using normal Y-Adapters on the BIPAD8's rca outputs? That would probably work also...

Tony's last question is a good one!

If you do not have the problem, but you are trying to engineer around it, you may be wasting time.

I have found the distortion problem, which Larry describes perfectly, to happen in older amps but not newer amps. We run across it when we tell a client that we will save them some money and use their old amp for the second zone.

I have solved this problem by making my own custom Y connectors. A preamp output goes to two 4.7k ohm resistors; the other end of each resistor goes to one of the two amps.

sw, if you are trying to feed signal to several amps, not just two, then you need more distribution than a Y anyway.

Good luck, and please revive this thread and let us know what worked.

Ernie

Okay, I will start with Tony first. I could come up with a 22g, 2pr, individuallly shielded pairs. Are there any considerations when using both RCA and Cat 5 outputs, and do you think that wire is sufficient?
Ernie, we haven't tried standard Y's yet. I am just trying to assure 100% satisfaction. The time it takes to reach the 23rd floor, pull 2 access racks in a museum like setting is costly. Besides it really eats our team up when we fail. I really don't think that is over engineering. I will certainly try the resistor idea you mentiond if we fail to receive the channel vision piece. Thank you all very much for the very insightful and helpful information!!!!!!!!!