Bi-amping vs Higher powered amp

H

HTfan14

Audioholic Intern
I am considering bi-amping a Rotel RB985 to run my Paradigm Studio 40's. The amp is 5x100watts. My question is would bi-amping like this give equal or better results then say an amp that is 2x200watts?
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
I am considering bi-amping a Rotel RB985 to run my Paradigm Studio 40's. The amp is 5x100watts. My question is would bi-amping like this give equal or better results then say an amp that is 2x200watts?
Maybe equal. But, are you having some issues right now with just one amp per speaker?
 
H

HTfan14

Audioholic Intern
No issues, just looking for better 2 channel music from my rec.
 
C

cornelius

Full Audioholic
I don't think bi-amping is going to improve things as much as a new amp. I was bi-amping with two Arcam amps and switched to a single McIntosh amp. The improvement that I heard from the Mac was much greater than the difference that I heard from adding the second Arcam.
 
C

cfrizz

Senior Audioholic
Get a more powerful amp. It will make a world of difference.:)
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
Everything being equal, the 5X100W amp should have a larger power supply assuming the 985 has just 1 large power supply. The problem is, if you biamp the Studio 40 with the 5X100W amp the bass driver will only get 100W. 100W Rotel power per channel may sound like a lot but in general you don't approach the point of diminishing return until you get above 200WPC.

For this reason alone, I would think that you are better off with the 2X200W amp because you will end up with more power for the drivers that needs it most. Another point to consider is that biamping is not much better than biwiring unless you also have active crossover systems and disable the speaker's internal passive crossover network. Also keep in mind that all the perceived benefits of biamping are theorectical, there is no guarantee that such theorectical benefits would in fact translate into improved sound quality that is audible to you. More power, on the other hand, will at least minimize the possibility and the severity of clipping that is in many cases audible to most people.

By the way, thanks to you I searched and found the RB985 manual. This is the only amp so far that actually specify what 40 amp peaks mean. It is for 0.1 ohm load, 10 microseconds, 1 pulse. So power=40X40X0.1=160W assuming that 0.1 ohm is purely resistive (if not, it will be even less), and this is Rotel.. So much for the high current misconception! Still the spec of this amp is quite impressive but it only weighs 34 lbs.
 
H

HTfan14

Audioholic Intern
Thanks all for your input so far! Good insight PENG, thank you. I will have to go look up the manual now as I don't have one.
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
By the way, thanks to you I searched and found the RB985 manual. This is the only amp so far that actually specify what 40 amp peaks mean. It is for 0.1 ohm load, 10 microseconds, 1 pulse. So power=40X40X0.1=160W assuming that 0.1 ohm is purely resistive (if not, it will be even less), and this is Rotel.. So much for the high current misconception! Still the spec of this amp is quite impressive but it only weighs 34 lbs.
WOW, what a find!!!:D A maker explains their rating :D
But, in the end, it is not very useful, 0.1 Ohms resistance? 10us? Not even a dynamic rating, 20ms pulses twice a second:D
Perhaps that 550W amp booster is like that too that is posted here someplace just recently:D
Thanks.
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
No issues, just looking for better 2 channel music from my rec.
OK. For better music, I would suggest you attack the room's acoustic issues unless that part is complete. You will have a greater return than most anything else.
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
Just passing through, did someone say power supply?:D
 
P

PENG

Audioholic Slumlord
But? Would you prefer that it weigh more?

-Chris
Not me, I included it for Buckeyefan1 in case he checks in. If I rememberr correctly, 34 lbs would barely make it according to his rule of thumb.:)
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
Not me, I included it for Buckeyefan1 in case he checks in. If I rememberr correctly, 34 lbs would barely make it according to his rule of thumb.:)
A Behringer EP2500 weighs around 45 lbs. It produces [real, measured, verified] 1960 or so watts at about 0.046% THD into a 4.4 ohm test load. If only it weighed more.... :rolleyes:

-Chris
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
A Behringer EP2500 weighs around 45 lbs. It produces [real, measured, verified] 1960 or so watts at about 0.046% THD into a 4.4 ohm test load. If only it weighed more.... :rolleyes:

-Chris
Is the Behringer super cooled with a noisy fan? What design principle do they incorporate in those Pro amps anyway?

How is the noise floor as well, I have always wondered these things.:D
 
WmAx

WmAx

Audioholic Samurai
Is the Behringer super cooled with a noisy fan? What design principle do they incorporate in those Pro amps anyway?

How is the noise floor as well, I have always wondered these things.:D
The EP2500 is a switching amplifier; a hybrid class D.

The lower powered EP1500 is a traditional class A/B.

The stock fan is a little noisy. You can replace it with a quiet Panaflo model for about $8 plus shipping. As far as the signal output, the EP2500 is dead silent. It has a measured SNR of about 106dB.

I really have no clue about using it for full range; I only use mine for woofers.

-Chris
 
Seth=L

Seth=L

Audioholic Overlord
The EP2500 is a switching amplifier; a hybrid class D.

The lower powered EP1500 is a traditional class A/B.

The stock fan is a little noisy. You can replace it with a quiet Panaflo model for about $8 plus shipping. As far as the signal output, the EP2500 is dead silent. It has a measured SNR of about 106dB.

I really have no clue about using it for full range; I only use mine for woofers.

-Chris
You should at least give them a go with full range. I am dissapointed to learn it is Class D, but at 45 pounds you can't get that kind of power without using such a topology right? If it was Class A/B it would likely weigh 150 pounds, not practical.:D
 
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