bi-amping my front/left speakers.

[exodus]

HI guys, my current setup consist of a yamaha 7.2 reciever used only to power up the L/R surr & L/R back surr. For the font channels I use marantz thx mono power amps connected to the pre-outs of the yamaha. I would like to bi-amp my front speakers B&W 683 s2. My intention is to use the mono blocks for the low/F & either use a Rotel stereo power amp (100w/ch) or a Marantz integrated amp PM6004(45w/ch 8 ohms) for the High/f.Can I use this method with good results? DO I also have to put on the bi-amp mode on the yamaha although im not using the internal amps? DO Ihave to take off the metal straps from the speaker terminals? I realy appreciate your comments. thanks.

 

[j_garcia]

You are welcome to try this, but I think just using the Rotel to power the 683s will be more than sufficient. To biamp YES you have to remove the straps or you will fry both amps.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

HI guys, my current setup consist of a yamaha 7.2 reciever used only to power up the L/R surr & L/R back surr. For the font channels I use marantz thx mono power amps connected to the pre-outs of the yamaha. I would like to bi-amp my front speakers B&W 683 s2. My intention is to use the mono blocks for the low/F & either use a Rotel stereo power amp (100w/ch) or a Marantz integrated amp PM6004(45w/ch 8 ohms) for the High/f.Can I use this method with good results? DO I also have to put on the bi-amp mode on the yamaha although im not using the internal amps? DO Ihave to take off the metal straps from the speaker terminals? I realy appreciate your comments. thanks.

I wouldn't mess with it. I think the "cost" outweighs the "benefit".

Benefit - I don't think passive bi-amp will produce any audible improvement at all. Different amps have different voltage gains, and the higher gain amps will produce louder sound, which will make it seem like it sounds better, but it's not really better once the volume level is matched.

Cost - If you bi-amp, I would recommend using identical amps with the same voltage gain because different amps may have different gains. Using different amps with different gains will probably mess up the sound more than help.

So I wouldn't mess with it.

 

[Andrew08]

i have kef q900 bi amp. It is passive crossover.
you will hear sound different. i have something to do with impedance, like your speaker became easier to drive because instead of 4ohms it will be 8ohms and 16 ohms, I measured it with multitester, and rta, i can't comment on the science.

 

[exodus]

Thanks guys for your comments. TO tell you the truth Ihave little knowladge about this,like voltage gain etc... So if I use the rotel amp for H/F and the mono blocks which by the way are rated at(200w rms into 8 ohms) for theLow/F would that makes sense and beneficial to me? Would that cost any harm to my speakers & my amps? Thanks again and would welcome more advice.

 

[Andrew08]

Try watt and db article by audioholics, you need to look at amp gain too.

Because the watt is different means loudness is different.

 

[exodus]

Thanks Andrew Iwill look at that article. I have another thing to straighten out. With this set up do Ihave to turn to on the bi-amp setting in the yamaha or not? Im not using the biamps for biamping of the yamaha.

 

[Andrew08]

To make this simple and easy

If you are using 1 av receiver
Plug your 1 speaker, 4 wire cable into 2 channel on receiver and LF and HF, you have to set bi amp to on and other setting.

If you are using 2 external amplifier use a y connector and do not turn bi amp option to on.

There is also a bi amp guide at audioholics

Because there are vertical and horizontal biamp.

Different amp not recommended.

 

[exodus]

Thanks Andrew I realy appreciate all of your advice.

 

[king2b]

I bi-amped my Phase Tech 9.1's with a 7.1 Onkyo receiver but after many months I went back to the original setup with the jumpers and didn't hear any difference

 

[Andrew08]

4 ohm speaker
and 6 ohm onkyo...

i am guessing something like you didn't drive it to its max(very dangerous)

actually as long as you are using 1watt for 8ohm or 2watt for 4 ohm, instead of 100watt for 8ohm and 200watt for 4 ohm, you might not hear any diff.

 

[j_garcia]

The amp does not have an impedance rating...impedance varies with frequency. It can either handle the load or it can't and then it will begin to clip.

 

[Andrew08]

the speaker have nominal impedance of 4ohm
and onkyo says that it can handle up to 6 ohm only

http://faq.onkyo-europe.com/faq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=2&id=14&artlang=en

 

[mtrycrafts]

the speaker have nominal impedance of 4ohm
and onkyo says that it can handle up to 6 ohm only

http://faq.onkyo-europe.com/faq/index.php?action=artikel&cat=2&id=14&artlang=en

While I cannot read minds, I bet that 6 Ohm rating is on a continuous basis and level, as in power rating on a continuous basis.
Since the speaker dips to 4 Ohms at some frequency and input signals from what you listen to(not test tones) are not continuous and certainly frequency dependent, it will handle 4 Ohms just fine, even at normal listening levels.