Bi-Amplification advice

Tri amp is the way to go.Go to www.uhfmag.com and post your question to the editor.He is an expert and will steer you in the proper direction.

Elvin, go to SoundStage "synergizing" column archives by Greg Weaver, for 3/98 good article on bi-amping and bi-wiring, http://www.soundstage.com/synergize/ With all do respect to RE above, passive bi-amping is not a waste of time and yeilds very good results. Although there are benefits to having active electronic crossover before amps, it is not mandatory, again read soundstage article. I have Musical Fidelity amps and have used passive bi-amping to good effect, again please read article.

If you want to bi-amplify, there are many good reasons to do so VERTICALLY. Vertical bi-amping means using one stereo amp for each speaker. Every different marquis of amp has different current rise times (slew rate), different input impedances, different distortion levels, different clipping thresholds, different timbral presentations and more. If you use one type of amp (say, tube) for the mids and highs, but another for the lows (say, the DNA), your music will not mesh. If you use two identical DNA's, one for each side, you will not have differing presentations of, say, a single cello (which could be played through woofers or mids/his), or harps, or piano, etc. - you will achieve a seamless whole in your presentation with vertical bi-amping. As far a cross-over mods are concerned, contact the manufacturer. They may be willing and able to help. Avoid additional external circuitry - there is significant loss with each additional resistor, capacitor, inductor, circuit board and the like. In your case, if you split the signal at the speaker inputs, you would run two speaker cables to each speaker (woofer and mid/hi). Back at the amps, you would either fit a Y-connector to your amp inputs, or (better yet)take off the top cover and solder two short sections of wire across the inputs: hot to hot and ground to ground. Use good wire from an old, unused interconnect. Each piece need only be about 2 inches long. I run an audiophile surround with FIVE McCormack DNA amps operating in just this configuration. All five speakers are rigged for vertical bi-amp. I pulled the crossovers and positioned them outboard for easier upgrading and service, but this is not required. Contact me with further questions at AUDIO OPTIMIZER@CS.COM. Bruce Kopitz

Hi. I am currently bi-amping my system and have done so for the past several years. Bi-amping the easy and cheap way is to have a stereo amplifier power one speaker. Get a high quality Y-adaptor with the one male end connecting with either the left or right output of your pre-amp (or the Res 55 - I have read it has a great direct output). You the run a pair of interconnects into the left/right inputs of the amp. One channel (doesn't really matter), powers the "high" and the other the "low". Refer to your speaker's owners manual for the proper wiring procedure. Do the same (with exact same make/model of amp) for the other channel. If you have the $$$ for another amp or happen to have two - go for it!! I noticed much more headroom and clarity - and I don't use an external crossover - my speaker model bypasses the internal crossover when you wire it for bi-amping - check your manual as well!) Good luck and feel free to e-mail me with questions. BTW - finding a high-end Y adaptor is NOT easy and I would suggest you use the same material/construction as your interconnects. It may have to be custom made.