Elvin, The answers are all simple (at least in words :-) You do need to use an electronic crossover. Passive biamping is (IMHO) a complete waste of time - this is where separate amps are used to a bi-wired speaker system. If there are any gains at all, they are slight. The speaker's internal crossover from bass to mid+high must be disconnected, but keep the mid to high crossover, since that is still needed. The rewiring of the internal crossover is not usually hard to do, and is neither permanent or fatal (i.e. you can put it all back together later if you want to sell the speakers). Make sure you note what you disconnected (and from where), and also make sure that the electronic crossover has as close to the original crossover frequency as possible. The additional amplifier does not need to be balanced (although this does not hurt). As for being valve or transistor, this is completely up to you. My own system uses identical transistor power amps (4 of them), and this performs very well. If I had a valve amp, I would probably use that for the top end (mid+high), but you can always experiment - switch them around until you decide which is the best connection. Cheers, Rod (This is the reply i recieved from Rod Elliot of Elliot Sound Products.) You can find his Web Site at: www.rode@sound.au.com
Bi-Amplification advice
Hello, I have some questions about this process. I am getting quite a lot of different opinions on this subject and hope that anyone reading this can give me some advice. I have: McCormack DNA-1 Dlx. McCormack ALD-1 Dlx. w/ E.S.P. Resolution Audio CD-55 Von Schweikert VR4 Gen. II Rega 25 All interconnects are by Luminous Audio Tech. Power Cords by T.G.Audio. I have been told numerous ways of achieving this set-up. Some have said that an external electronic crossover would need to be introduced into the equation thus necessitating the need to diconnect the internal crossovers from low to mid-high, directing one Amp. for lows the other for mid-high. Others have said to use one Amp. for the lows and the other for the mid-high's without an external crossover. Still others have said to use one Amp. for each side, as in a Mono set-up, without bridging. There is the added scenerio of Tubes for the mid-high and S.S. for the lows. What began as a project of fun and curiosity has grown into full scale confusion. I have been an avent audiophile for some time and have owned a lot of equip. over the years. I have a chance to purchase another DNA-1 Dlx. at a good price and I have wanted to try Bi-Amplifying. Any "sound advice" out there?
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- 7 posts total
- 7 posts total