Want Mono Sound from Stereo

I'm not too up with speakers these days, but i'm sure you could rig them up in mono by in effect bridging them?

If you put both speakers + cables to the + on the left channel, and the - to the - on the right channel, would that not provide what you're after?

Obviously if the speakers are 8ohm, you'd be driving a 4ohm load which is pretty heavy going for amps... whether it would make a difference that you were splitting the load between both channels I have no idea...

If i'm honest, i'd want clarification from people more in the know before I tried what i've just said... but from memory, it sounds about right

I think that your receiver would be able to drive two speakers to sufficient volumes, except the problem with this is that you could end up damaging the amp by putting too big a load on it. You might not notice anything but prolonged used could do something.

Now, with two speakers connected in parellel (producing an impedance of 4 ohms), the chance of such damage is not too likely.

But I don't understand how connecting both speakers to the same channel will produce a full range of sound. The source still has to be connected to the receiver, so only one channel from the source will be played. Connecting both speakers to one channel will make both of them sound the same, but would not give the full range.

Instead, what you could do is connect your source to your amp with two Y-cables. This way, you would get identical sound in both channels. The added bonus of this methord is that you don't have to worry about overloading your amp (and get better sound since you would be using both channels of the amp).

Using Y-cables is not the best cabling (since 2 seperate cables are required), but I don't know of any other way of mixing two channels. Perhaps someone else here knows of a better way.

If you have many sources, than this methord could get a bit expensive. Though, you could possibly daisy chain the sources and only use a mixer and the end of the chain (assuming at least some of the sources have audio inputs).

Nope, that's kinda backwards...here is what I mean:

CDP
\/
|
|
|
|
|
|
/\
Amp

No, that wouldn't be right, that would be standard stereo...

I can't see that there is anyway to convert two channels into one at the line level side of things...

Duncan, how do you mean? Though I have never tried this setup, as far as I understand it, a Y-cable will split a single signal into two channels. How could two channels travel down a singal wire?

By Y-cable I don't mean the mini-to-RCA adapters. Rather, I'm refering to the type used with powered subwoofers.

Let me give this a shot. First off, even though the speaker hookup would most likely work, I would avoid it for reaasons stated above. Modern SS receivers are notoriously poor at driving low impedance loads. Although you state that you would be using the speakers at low volumes, it's something I would rather not worry about.
I would stick with converting your source CDP to mono. Here's how I would go about it. Radio Shack sells some adapters that should do the trick. Get part # 42-2438 (Two RCA plugs to one RCA plug) and plug that into the L and R channels of your CDP. This will effectively combine the L/R channels into a single mono signal. Then connect part #42-2435 (Two RCA plugs to RCA jack) between the CDP and your receiver. The mono signal will now be fed to both channels of your receiver. This should work nicely.................of course, I could be wrong. But I don't think so. Hope this helps. BTW, total cost: $5.48!

I'm personally just not so sure that you can put two signals into one...

I know, as joelongwood says, that you can buy splitters, but I think that that is for a mono output into a two channel input

It probably will work, but... i've heard that it definetly is not recommended...

I don't know though... as Joe says, its only $5... if it doesn't work, you haven't lost a lot

Check these out:
http://www.edcorusa.com/gadgeteer/app_notes/an_08.htm
http://www.edcorusa.com/sound/gadgets/s2m.htm
It's a bit pricier at $17.60, but it claims to combine the channels perfectly. Then you would simply connect a y-adapter to the mono signal and plug into your receiver.
I still think my original idea would work fine, but this gadget should make you rest easier.

A regular Y cable may load your source too much.

What you need are two identical resistors (about 1k Ohm should suffice). Connect the right output of your source to one resistor and the left output to the other.

SOURCE R ____/\/\/\________ INPUT R
SOURCE L ____/\/\/\__/\_____ INPUT L

That will prevent an output oveload on the source, and will drive both channels as mono.

BTW - These are the center pins on the RCA plugs. The shields can be connected regularly.

AssafL.

Edit: This system removes spaces. Fixed the diagram....

does your receiver have a stereo mono switch on the front panel?