Bi-Wire - Bi-Amp

[ctwed]

I am new at this so bear with me.

The plan:
I am in the process of installing a 5 (150wX5) channel power amp into my 5.1 system driven by a Yamaha RX-V 1500 receiver. I plan to use the power amp to drive the l,c,r speakers. The amps in the receiver will be used for the surrounds and zone 2 power requirements. I would like to bi-amp? the mains using 2 each of the 5 channels of the power amp, the remaining channel for the center. I have split the pre-out from the receivers left main signal to the Left Main and Left Surround channel on the power amp. The same with the Right. I plan to then wire the two respective amp channels to the speakers.

Newbie question #1:
Does this plan make sense to the forum? If not, what are the wholes in my thinking?

Newbie question #2:
What do I use to bring the signal/power to the speakers? I have seen speaker wires with (4) terminations on one end and (2) terminations on the other. From what I can gather, this wiring configuration is designed to take the (L,R) signal hence the (2) terminals from the amp to the speaker and split the signal/power to the top, i.e. tweeter with (2) terminations and the bottom (bass) with (2) terminations. Hence, bi-wiring? I think.

Is the process reversable? Can I reverse the wire and attach the (4) terminations to my power amp's 2 channels and attach the (2) terminations to the speaker. Ditto for the other side? Hence bi-amping? I think. Or do I need to do something else?

I hope this makes sense to you all. Please help.
Thanks - ctwed

 

[Derelict]

Well I am no expert in the area of bi-amping, but I have walked through the process of it myself and even asked a similar question on this forum. I will try answer to the extent of my knowledge.

Question 1: I think your reasoning is sound. You split the pre-outs from your receiver and send them to two channels of the amp, which you are already doing, repeat for the other channel and done.

Question 2: This one has me a little confused, but maybe if I show you the right way to do it, the problem is solved. What you need is either two sets of speakers cables or to make it easier, one with 4 terminals on each end ( http://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm, the Canare 4S11 has four strands running through it). You can attach the four terminals on one end to the 2 amp channels you have selected for the side in question and attach the other end to the 4 terminals on your speaker (this is bi-amping, as opposed to bi-wiring). Just make sure you keep each channel separate, meaning that a single channel goes to the lows on your speaker and a single channel to the highs.

That help? Did I miss anything?

 

[ctwed]

It answers the question, Thanks..