BI-AMPING 101

Within a week, I added 250 WPC of amp muscle.
(Hafler 150WPC amp-Niles 100WPC subwoofer amp, both at 8 ohms)
Considering I went about 30 years with one integrated Technics 65WPC receiver,
I never had any interest or knowledge of BI-AMPING.
Is there a LINK that explains the basics of the concept,
and how it would best work with the array of speakers I own?
The best are the AR-3A (which obviously were designed with bi-amping in mind), and some two-way Klipsch.


thanks,
dennis

This post has been edited by doctorbongo on August 18, 2007 07:47 pm

see;
http://www.sound-thinking.org/index.php?sh...findpost&p=3214.
provides links for the defacto standard for bi-amp\bi-wiring.

sounds like you are going to be using a second amp to power a sub, which is not quite the same as bi-amping a single set of speakers.

Honestly, I don't know WHAT I'm doing, Scott.
I'll read up on the available info, look at the components I have,
and decide what will work best.
Thanks for the guidance.
dennis

i'm afraid i'm not much of a guide, i'm as lost as you are, the technical aspects are completely foreign to me.

i use passive bi-amping (no external xovers and relying on the speakers' internal passive xovers) in my system, which according to the the "Benefits of Bi-Amping" article is not really bi-amping at all. i have no experience with separate subs and sub amps.

I wouldn't say its no benefit. Plan to run SS for my woofs and SET for my tweets. This is a good example of when it can work with out an active crossover. Unless I am missing something.

Passive bi-amping works fine and has some significant benefits, however it is only easy to implement if your power amps have identical gain and sensivity.

When using power amps with different specs you need some form of adjusting the output level of one amp relative to the other. This will be the case when you use a SE triode for tweeters and a SS for bass.

Jorge

Yep, that will be this fall's great experiment. I'll base my cable purchase on that.

My tube amp will let me do this through the volume knob and the tube bias. It may take some fiddling but I'll get it. Would like to push less volts through the tubes anyway. Still don't know if I'll ultimately get a pre or CD player next year. When I et my NAD back I'll be using it as a temporary pre. It also has a variable out put from the pre for adjustments to gain right there.

Which Hafler amp did you pick up? Some of the Haflers have output adjustment on the power amps.

Jim

Right now using a technics as a pre/power for the woofs and my almarro for the tweets. Even with the rat shack ICs and ghetto cables I'm using....WOW. Top to bottom sonic layering. No need for a sub anymore. I didn't realize how much power tweets can eat though. I am really enjoying the arrangement. New cables, my NAD amp and a passive pre will help and come in short order. Highly recommended. I never knew how good my speaks were until now. Will never go back to a single amp again. SS power amps are getting cheaper too. Just look at the crown stuff for example.

I´ve been preaching bi-amping, here and at other places, for quite some time now, particularly the active crossover variety.

I´m really happy for you, Anthony.

Jorge

Jorge,

How do you use a active cross with speaks that have passive crosses already hardwired? Can you? I am really thrilled this is working with my moderately priced setup.

We should have an active crossover 101.


I really want post pics/review of my system but my time is always fleeting. My life is too purposeful these days.

-Anthony

you should really do something to fix that.

you should really do something to fix that.

such has always been my vocation but not my temperment. after all, I have ph.d.

unfortunately its a condition forced on all of us i'm afraid (purposefulness, not phd's). i try to suppress it whenever i can and thats where music is a great help.

I know how you feel.

A heart attack and bypass surgery will cure it, though.