New Here. Need help settig up a my music listening room.

[steveg007]

I have read a great deal about people using 'y' splitters to bi-amp. But I have also seen that they sell amplified signal splitters. I have a Marantz AV600 that is ran to a Adcom GFA-555II right now that is pushing 2 Cerwin Vega AT-12's. I am wanting to at 2 x Bose 601 II and 2 x Bose 301 II. I am looking at picking up a Adcom GFA 535 II and GFA 545 II to push these Bose.

I am very interested in the sound quality. And I have read that using 'y' splitters I will have some loss of signal. So i have been looking at a 4 way amplified signal splitter. But my concern would be if these amplified splitters will ad noise to the signal. I have searched and have not found much on the forums about this.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[markw]

What, exactly, is an "amplified signal splitter"?

 

[steveg007]

Sorry I should have put a link to what I am looking at.

4-Way Component Video Distribution Amplifier | ShowMeCables.com

This is one of them that i was looking at.

Thanks.

 

[markw]

You really don't think that'll add distortion? Seriously, if you really think going that route will improve your sound, simple "Y" splitters will do the job quite adeuately. You're worring about inconsequentiual losses.

And, that's not "bi" or "Tri" amping, That's playing many speakers with their own amplifiers coverig the same frequencies and that can cause a lot of other problems such as phase issues, cancellation, and other not so nice things.

Loud does not always equal good sound. Are you familiar with the term "cacophony"?

 

[steveg007]

Well other than adding amps and speakers I am not really sure how to get enough sounds into this L shaped 3 car extended garage that I am turning into my music room.

I am new to this world as I just bought my first preamp and amp combo last week. But I am sure concert halls use more than 1 amp and 1 set of speakers. So I figured to myself that there must be some way of doing this in my garage.

I am not really looking for ear shattering loud. More looking for a very full sounding system that will sound go no matter where i am in this room.

 

[markw]

Well, if you place the speakers far apart from each other you'll cetainly get covreage.

When one uses the term "bi-amp", that presupposes one is looking for an improvement in sound by having each part of an amp/speaker concentrate on only one part of the audio range.

 

[steveg007]

Ok. Thanks. I misunderstood what bi-amping meant. So to bi-amp you would use 1 amp for say the sub and the other amp for the mids?

So y adapters are a acceptable way of splitting a preamp signal to 3 amps. The splitter box as I thought will add distortion. But what do they use when setting up for a classical concert? They are using multiple amps and speakers. Obviously they have multiple mic's so they have different signals to run to different amps and speakers.

So what is the best way to run multiple speakers and amps in the same room to not run into the issues you spoke of "such as phase issues, cancellation, and other not so nice things."

And no I do not know the word "cacophony". I am a diesel mechanic trying to set up a music room.

 

[markw]

Ok. Thanks. I misunderstood what bi-amping meant. So to bi-amp you would use 1 amp for say the sub and the other amp for the mids?

Exactly. Many times they incorporate an electronic crossover to send the proper frequencies to the proper speaker.

So y adapters are a acceptable way of splitting a preamp signal to 3 amps.

In this case, yes. The minimum loss incurred will be more than compensated for by the amplifiers.

The splitter box as I thought will add distortion. But what do they use when setting up for a classical concert? They are using multiple amps and speakers. Obviously they have multiple mic's so they have different signals to run to different amps and speakers.

That splitter box is used for low-level video/audio purposes where purity of the signal is not critical. Please note they use a composite video feed, one step above a cabcable RF signal like they used on old video game modulators..

So what is the best way to run multiple speakers and amps in the same room to not run into the issues you spoke of "such as phase issues, cancellation, and other not so nice things."

There are ways of electronically manipulating the signals to minimize those things but that would be beyond my pay grage. Just take it one step at a time. It might not be too bad as long as you're not expecting "audiophile" results, just basic coverage.

And no I do not know the word "cacophony". I am a diesel mechanic trying to set up a music room.

got google?

 

[steveg007]

Thanks for the help. I ordered some y splitters today from Amazon made by AudioQuest.