Tri-amping the AVR 3805

[RMK!]

I currently have a Denon 3805 bi-amped to my Monitor Audio S8 speakers in a 5.1 setup. Today I upgraded my S8’s to the MA GR60’s (get them next week). These speakers have three binding posts each (Treble, Midrange and Bass). I’m thinking that these power hungry speakers will benefit from more juice so why not tri-amp them? I used the method described in the Audioholics 3805 review and have the zone three powering the lows on the S8’s. I’m thinking of assigning the zone two amp to power the midrange on the GR60’s. Will this work? I’m pretty happy with the biamping experiment and since I’m not using zone 2 why not try it. Only investment is speaker wire.
Any comments?

 

[gene]

Dont triamp your speakers off of the 3805. Its a complete waste and I am uncertain if it can even be done. Besides if for arguments sake it could, you would now be using 6 amps for 2 speakers leaving you with only one amp to power the center channel and nothing for the rears. My advice is to purchase an external 2CH amp to power your mains and use the receiver amps for the rest.

 

[RMK!]

Dont triamp your speakers off of the 3805. Its a complete waste and I am uncertain if it can even be done. Besides if for arguments sake it could, you would now be using 6 amps for 2 speakers leaving you with only one amp to power the center channel and nothing for the rears. My advice is to purchase an external 2CH amp to power your mains and use the receiver amps for the rest.

Gene,
Thanks for the comments. I thought the logic of bi-amping was using the unused zone three amp and increasing the available power to the fronts. If the zone two in unused wouldn't the same logic apply?

 

[gene]

the advantage of passive biamping your receiver to your mains is a bit more control for the bass drivers since they are being fed a separate amp. You really aren't gaining more SPL overall as much as a bit more control. My point was if you wanted to triamp, it would require another 2 amps from the receiver which you wont have if your doing a 5.1 setup. Its not worth it even if it could be done.

 

[Duffinator]

Gene,
Thanks for the comments. I thought the logic of bi-amping was using the unused zone three amp and increasing the available power to the fronts. If the zone two in unused wouldn't the same logic apply?

You can only assign power to one zone not both. So there's no power for zone two.

 

[RMK!]

You can only assign power to one zone not both. So there's no power for zone two.

Can't assign power to two zones... guess I need to upgrade to a 5805

Per Clints review, I have the zone three amp assigned to the lows. Now with three sets of speaker connects, I'm thinking that zone three should still power the lows (remove the shorting straps) and zone one to the Mids/Highs (straps on). Does that sound right?

By the way, in my case, the GoodGuys really are. They gave me full list price credit on the S8's & SLCR twords the purchase of the GR60's and the Gold Ctr. Pretty good customer service don't you think?

 

[Privateer]

Have you ever thought about buying a seperate amp? Maybe you can demo a 2CH amp and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Duffinator]

Per Clints review, I have the zone three amp assigned to the lows. Now with three sets of speaker connects, I'm thinking that zone three should still power the lows (remove the shorting straps) and zone one to the Mids/Highs (straps on). Does that sound right?

By the way, in my case, the GoodGuys really are. They gave me full list price credit on the S8's & SLCR twords the purchase of the GR60's and the Gold Ctr. Pretty good customer service don't you think?

That sounds right to me but I've never bi-amped a set of speakers with three sets of binging posts. Maybe someone else can opine on that?

They are good guys alright, did they give you a break on the Gold's? And BTW, I'm jealous. Those are some great sounding speakers. I'll be happy if I can get a set of the newer Silver RS 8's.

 

[RMK!]

Have you ever thought about buying a seperate amp? Maybe you can demo a 2CH amp and see if that makes a difference.

Yes I have, but I'm a little space cramped and that WAF thing comes into play (single guys rejoyce). I also read that unless I'm doubling the power, an additional amp would not have much effect. I suppose I need to give the 3805 a chance and see how she does with the new speakers. The triamping idea came to me while swimming laps. Thats where I get most of my great ideas (like upgrading perfectly good workable speakers for bigger better) it seemed like a quick and easy way to power up. Good thing there are guys like Duffinator who read the manuals

 

[RMK!]

That sounds right to me but I've never bi-amped a set of speakers with three sets of binging posts. Maybe someone else can opine on that?

They are good guys alright, did they give you a break on the Gold's? And BTW, I'm jealous. Those are some great sounding speakers. I'll be happy if I can get a set of the newer Silver RS 8's.

Yes they are NICE. My mistake was going back several times and getting dosed by that incredible pure sound. They gave me a good deal on the S8's and Center on my original purchase. On the tradein, they used the list price value so yes it was a nice break on the Golds price. I could have saved some by buying from an etailer and selling the silvers but they had been good about my never ending demo mode so I wanted to buy from them.

 

[Kenna Young]

Amp for the sub?

I have the following:

Denon 3805 (120W/ch)

Aperion 522D FLR, VAC, 522D-SS RLR

SVS PSB10 Sub (300W BASH)

Should I get an amp for the sub? If yes, recommendations, please.

Room 24x16x8

60/40 movies to music (but want to really crank the music sometimes)

Budget less than $400

Thanks for your assistance.

 

[Duffinator]

What's wrong with the sub you have? Not enough room rattling going on? If you want more bass sell your PB10 and buy a larger PB12 or a larger sub with more power. You can sell the one you have and add the $400 and get a bigger, better sounding sub from SVS, HSU, Velodyne, etc.

 

[gene]

I also read that unless I'm doubling the power, an additional amp would not have much effect.

Doubling the power will buy you 3dB more headroom but there are other benefits to a separate amp over a receiver is some cases. When driving a low impedance, highly reactive speaker load, a separate amp will usually have lower output impedance since it has more output devices, thus suffer less ill effects of frequency response varation under reactive loading, lower distortion and a higher damping factor for better woofer control.

I would suggest trying what you have now, crossing over your main speakers at 60-80Hz and letting the sub handle bass below that. If you are not satisfied, first consider speaker position and room acoustics before dumping more money on electronics. A good 2Ch amp can be had for around $1k or so, but first get the basics right before upgrading again.

PS. While swimming you should be thinking of ways to make money NOT spend it

 

[RMK!]

Doubling the power will buy you 3dB more headroom but there are other benefits to a separate amp over a receiver is some cases. When driving a low impedance, highly reactive speaker load, a separate amp will usually have lower output impedance since it has more output devices, thus suffer less ill effects of frequency response varation under reactive loading, lower distortion and a higher damping factor for better woofer control.

I would suggest trying what you have now, crossing over your main speakers at 60-80Hz and letting the sub handle bass below that. If you are not satisfied, first consider speaker position and room acoustics before dumping more money on electronics. A good 2Ch amp can be had for around $1k or so, but first get the basics right before upgrading again.

PS. While swimming you should be thinking of ways to make money NOT spend it

Thanks for the sage advice. I will do just that. Re: the swimming, I pride myself in being a good consumer and the thinking ratio is about 51/49 make/spend.

I still have a question about the biamp wiring. My current speakers have only two binding posts so it was easy. I used the unused zone 3 amp to power the lows and the main zone to power the mid/treble. In reading the MA GR60 manual re biamping it says to use one amp to drive mid-bass and the other to drive the treble. I remember a comment on the 3805 that the zone two and three amps were inferior to the main zone amp. Is this true? If so, it would seem to make sense to have main zone drive the (more demanding?) bass/mid and the zone three amp drive the treble. Any comments?