Question On Biamping

[bosco_62]

Hey there. What exactly is biamping, how does it work, how would you go about hooking it up and I assuming you would use multiple amplifiers but what kind? Oh and is biamping benifical over biwiring?? I'd apriciate any information, thanks.

 

[sholling]

I biamp my mains using a feature on my 7.1 (biamped as 5.1) receiver and speakers designed for biamping. I'm going to wait with baited breath for expert responses. All I know is that in my case it doubles the power (+3db) and sounds pretty good.

 

[mike c]

bi-wiring only effectively increases wire gauge - in short, if you are already using a single sufficiently sized wire ... there WILL BE NO benefit.

bi-amping IMO is only beneficial if you already have an extra amp or extra amp channels. otherwise, just get a larger amp. BECAUSE IMO: 100wpc x 2 is no better than a single 150wpc (basis is on regular speakers with regular sensitivity and ohm rating)

 

[JoeE SP9]

If you have a powered sub woofer you are bi-amping. It just means running separate amps to speakers and sub to use that as an example. Bi-amping using a sub woofer has lots of benefits. It gets the lows frequencies away from the mains and provides a separate amp and speaker to produce them. Bi-wiring leaves me skeptical. If your wire is already of sufficient gauge what's the point. I could be wrong about this so I'm only giving my opinion.

 

[jesse111]

Mike and Joe you are both correct. I biwire. But I do it because it looks cool, I use very inexpensive cable and it's fun to me. It increases gauge yes but unless your running ridiculously thin cable there is no benefit. One big amp is better than two small ones and it's cheaper. It's all about the power. If you already have a small amp and need more power then biamp if it's cheaper for you. Otherwise get one big amp and the system will harmonize better. Bi amping and bi wiring are money pits for the gullable.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I biwire. But I do it because it looks cool, I use very inexpensive cable and it's fun to me. .

That is a great reason to bi-wire.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hey there. What exactly is biamping, how does it work, how would you go about hooking it up and I assuming you would use multiple amplifiers but what kind? Oh and is biamping benifical over biwiring?? I'd apriciate any information, thanks.

The only time you would really benefit is if you had an amp for each driver in a speaker, no passive crossover or totally bypassed, and using an electronic crossover.

 

[sholling]

So then with my biamped towers and powered sub i'm triamping?

 

[Nick250]

So then with my biamped towers and powered sub i'm triamping?

Is that even legal?

 

[PENG]

bi-wiring only effectively increases wire gauge - in short, if you are already using a single sufficiently sized wire ... there WILL BE NO benefit.

bi-amping IMO is only beneficial if you already have an extra amp or extra amp channels. otherwise, just get a larger amp. BECAUSE IMO: 100wpc x 2 is no better than a single 150wpc (basis is on regular speakers with regular sensitivity and ohm rating)

These kind of statements simply do not reflect the whole truth. At best, they are the opinion of one camp, but not based on facts, i.e. physics/engineering principles. There are plenty of posts on this topic so I am not going to get into details.

 

[PENG]

If you have a powered sub woofer you are bi-amping. It just means running separate amps to speakers and sub to use that as an example. Bi-amping using a sub woofer has lots of benefits. It gets the lows frequencies away from the mains and provides a separate amp and speaker to produce them. Bi-wiring leaves me skeptical. If your wire is already of sufficient gauge what's the point. I could be wrong about this so I'm only giving my opinion.

Thanks Joe, you are being fair, you are in fact only giving your opinion. Others tend to make such statements as though there are facts based on science. The facts are, bi-amp/bi-wire both affects the signals in certain ways other than ways a thicker wire would do. More so in bi-amping for sure. None the less, whether such schemes would result in audible difference is a debate I don't want to get into.

 

[JKnPA]

Article............

I found this article on 'Bi-amping'.... maybe it might help!
Maybe not.............

If anyone has any other articles on the subject, I would be interested in reading them!
Jk
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/biamping.html

 

[PENG]

I found this article on 'Bi-amping'.... maybe it might help!
Maybe not.............

If anyone has any other articles on the subject, I would be interested in reading them!
Jk
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/biamping.html

You should be able to google for more. There are also articles on many mid to high end loudspeaker manufacturer's websites.

Basically, bi-amping without using the crossover network in the speaker (known as active biamping, needs separate crossover system) makes the most difference in terms of signal quality, followed by bi-amping with the speaker's crossover still in use, and then lastly and least just bi-wiring.

 

[mike c]

for the record, I did say IMO (In My Opinion).
but I'm sticking with it because bi-amping (with internal crossovers) yielded insignificant change for me that I believe bi-wiring (I have to bi-wire to bi-amp) will simply be even more insignificant.

although i still believe in theory that it should give me at least more watts (about as much as my mids and highs need) its just not feasible to buy an extra amp just to biamp.

 

[jesse111]

I found this article on 'Bi-amping'.... maybe it might help!
Maybe not.............

If anyone has any other articles on the subject, I would be interested in reading them!
Jk
http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/biamping.html

Excellent read. The truth will set you free. (And won't waste your money.) Just buy a bigger amp if need be.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Others tend to make such statements as though there are facts based on science. The facts are, bi-amp/bi-wire both affects the signals in certain ways other than ways a thicker wire would do. More so in bi-amping for sure. None the less, whether such schemes would result in audible difference is a debate I don't want to get into.

You should re-read what Axiom Audio, one of your referenced sources has to say on bi-wiring:

Will it sound any different if you biwire? Some users think it does, but I've never heard any differences, nor have any of our laboratory measurements or scientifically controlled double blind listening tests ever demonstrated there are audible differences. Axiom includes the extra terminals as a nod to those enthusiasts who believe that biwiring results in audible benefits and for the bi-ampers.

They could not hear audible differences, nor measure it. So, I am not sure what other facts you have.

 

[mtrycrafts]

These kind of statements simply do not reflect the whole truth. At best, they are the opinion of one camp, but not based on facts, i.e. physics/engineering principles. There are plenty of posts on this topic so I am not going to get into details.

Axiom Audio has a different take from yours. I think they know how to get to the bottom of it:

Will it sound any different if you biwire? Some users think it does, but I've never heard any differences, nor have any of our laboratory measurements or scientifically controlled double blind listening tests ever demonstrated there are audible differences. Axiom includes the extra terminals as a nod to those enthusiasts who believe that biwiring results in audible benefits and for the bi-ampers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I believe bi-wiring (I have to bi-wire to bi-amp) will simply be even more insignificant.
.

Not to worry, Axiom is on your side with data:

Will it sound any different if you biwire? Some users think it does, but I've never heard any differences, nor have any of our laboratory measurements or scientifically controlled double blind listening tests ever demonstrated there are audible differences. Axiom includes the extra terminals as a nod to those enthusiasts who believe that biwiring results in audible benefits and for the bi-ampers.

Cannot hear it, cannot measure it.

 

[PENG]

Not to worry, Axiom is on your side with data:

Will it sound any different if you biwire? Some users think it does, but I've never heard any differences, nor have any of our laboratory measurements or scientifically controlled double blind listening tests ever demonstrated there are audible differences. Axiom includes the extra terminals as a nod to those enthusiasts who believe that biwiring results in audible benefits and for the bi-ampers.

Cannot hear it, cannot measure it.

I think you may be off side this time. Actually if you read your own quote from Axiom's, there isn't any real argument. I have been saying whether bi-wire, or even bi-amp would make an audible difference or not I do not know and it is another debate. I did mention that some people may be able to hear a difference, but not me.

I have always been protesting ONLY when people say bi-wire is the same as using heavy gauge wire and other than that it make no difference. I just feel like defending engineering principles. Again, if any one said "no audible difference", then I would have only responded by saying I could not hear any difference neither as I have said before, but some people may. Now, that would be basically, though not exactly what Axiom is saying, right. Read (mine and Axiom's) yourself again and you may even agree. If you search my posts you would only find that I said I myself could not hear a difference, but it physically affects the signals differently than thicker wires would. Nothing Axiom, as you quoted, contracdicts what I said. Besides, you did visit the B&W and other speaker manufacturer's sites, right?

I am enjoying this, thank you for keeping it going.

 

[PENG]

for the record, I did say IMO (In My Opinion).
but I'm sticking with it because bi-amping (with internal crossovers) yielded insignificant change for me that I believe bi-wiring (I have to bi-wire to bi-amp) will simply be even more insignificant.

although i still believe in theory that it should give me at least more watts (about as much as my mids and highs need) its just not feasible to buy an extra amp just to biamp.

Mike, I think you understand my point. I said it in my previous response to similar topics, that I too, could not hear any difference bi-wiring. But I know physically/electrically bi-wiring is not just like using thicker wires because bi-wiring results in two signal paths with difference frequency vs impedance characteristics enforced by the speaker's separated crossover networks.

Sorry about the tone of my previous response.