Should I Bi-Amp?

[mtrycrafts]

when you utilize 7 channels vs. 5 channels on that receiver, you pretty much cut the power to each channel in half. Soundandvision magazine tested that receiver and found that it put out around 103 watts RMS 5 channels driven, and only 55 watts per channel with all 7 channels driven, so you may not really benefit at all by bi-amping the fronts using your receiver. If you had a separate amp, it may be a different story, I would probably not bi-amp using the receiver only if it were me. Those speakers are plenty efficient, so you should be able to get all the volume you need out of them unless your room is really large, or you like to listen at ear bleeding levels.

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/receivers/2708/test-bench-yamaha-rx-v1800-av-receiver.html

Yes, but we still forget that for that to happen, the input signal to each channel has to be maxing at the same instant in time, otherwise, it is just one channel maxing and tasking the caps and power supply.
In essence, while S&V has an interesting link, it has no real meaning to anything.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Yeah, that's because Harmon and NAD (& some others I forget at the moment) are probably the only two companies who spec with all channels driven. Everyone else spec with 1 ch driven---or maybe 2.

Yep, some companies like to be different, even if their methods have no real meaning.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Need to place an order for some new binding post straps, such a pain.

Can't you just use plain wire to jump them?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Can't you just use plain wire to jump them?

I would certainly think so.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have never found a superfluous set of binding posts on any speaker I've owned.

The mere fact that not all good speaker manufacturers see fit to offer biamping as an option is sufficient to show that its benefits are dubious, at best.

 

[GlocksRock]

Hey, GlocksRock, I noticed you haven't changed your signature yet to include the CLR3000.***hee***hee

I haven't gotten it yet... I got tired of waiting for David to place the next order, so I found a good deal on one on ebay... I should have it in a couple more days.

 

[OttoMatic]

Yes, but we still forget that for that to happen, the input signal to each channel has to be maxing at the same instant in time, otherwise, it is just one channel maxing and tasking the caps and power supply.
In essence, while S&V has an interesting link, it has no real meaning to anything.

Correct. The link showed that five channels driven measured at 100+W, and then seven channels driven dropped it to 55W per channel, presumably due to power supply limitation. So, yeah, you'd pretty much have to run them all at full power with a continuous signal to do that.

Additionally, if one were to bi-amp front speakers only (using a total of four channels, right?), one would never encounter this problem (with this receiver, anyway). So, for those that wish to make simple blanket statements that all receivers are power-supply limited when it comes to bi-amping, please stop. Those types of statements are misleading, wrong, and misinform people that may not know any better (who then start repeating it, and perpetuating the misinformation).

Similarly, an external amplifier can be designed to run all amplifier channels at full power (good design, no power supply limitation), or it could be poorly designed and run out of juice when all channels are driven. Simply having a external amp doesn't necessarily imply that you would or would not be power supply limited. As I'm sure most of you know, a receiver is just an amp (or several) crammed in the same box as a preamp. Any amplifier (whether it's part of a receiver or not) can be well-designed or not.

I don't mean to be rude or start any disagreement; I just want to try to keep the facts straight, and help those that are asking perfectly valid questions.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I haven't gotten it yet... I got tired of waiting for David to place the next order, so I found a good deal on one on ebay... I should have it in a couple more days.

Awesome. Even better!

Let us know how your bi-amped CLR3000 sounds.

My new center speaker will be the CLR6000: it combines two identical CLR3000 (4 midranges, 2 tweeters, 2 subwoofers) and will be hex-amped.

 

[GlocksRock]

Awesome. Even better!

Let us know how your bi-amped CLR3000 sounds.

My new center speaker will be the CLR6000: it combines two identical CLR3000 (4 midranges, 2 tweeters, 2 subwoofers) and will be hex-amped.

I will... I'm excited about it. Where do you suggest I set the subs's gain to? 12 o'clock, 10 o'clock?

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I will... I'm excited about it. Where do you suggest I set the subs's gain to? 12 o'clock, 10 o'clock?

Some people recommend 12 o'clock, some say 10 o'clock, so I set it to 11 o'clock.

So now I've set every single speaker to 11 o'clock.

I've set it at 2 o'clock before too, but the voices sounded a little too deep.

I've gone between 11 & 12 o'clock. So I say either will be good.