2. amps-preamps
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Should I Biamp

Would appreciate some advice on the following.

As I have an Musical Fidelity A3 Integrated Amp and a A3.2 Power Amp. I could either use the Integrated as a Pre-Amp and therefore run only a single speaker cable (from the Power amp) to my ProAc D15 speakers OR should I run 2 sets of speaker cables; the first from the Integrated and the second from the Power Amp.

Option 1)
Integrated -> Power -> Speaker
Option 2)
Integrated -> Speaker (high) and
Power -> Speaker (mid/low)

Thanks
dtanclim
ht808842dc2
1 posts
 
I would say you should check the sound with both configurations and then decide. It depends on weather you like warm sound or bright sound. Thumb rule use the amp that gives you better transparency to drive the Tweet and mid and the other to drive the base.I use the Arcam FMJ to drive the highs and mid and the Arcam alpha 10 power amp to drive the lows of my Proac D15s. Blissfullll
unsound
6,115 posts
 
Joshcloud9, mixing amps is tricky business. Though there are notable exceptions, generally I don't suggest mixing amps. Most peoples hearing is more acute in the mid and then the higher frequencies.
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
1. True biamp configuration requires a low level crossover. If you drive both amps full range, why bother.

2. Hook up one channel one way, and the other channel the other way. Feed all the amps the same (monaural) signal. Compare the two channels. If you hear any difference, pick the one you like.
drrdiamond
671 posts
 
Eldart, FYI:

There are several reasons why even biamping without an electronic x-over is a good idea:

1. You can use one for each channel, getting the advantage of monoblocks.

2. You are putting a lot of separation between the upper and lower speakers....ie: less frequency interaction.

Richard
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Drrdiamond...Thanks for the info. Your reason #2 is really just an extension of the biwire argument. Reason#1 means that the amps can be located right at the speaker (like monoblocks), and with the price that people pay for speaker wires you could probably buy that second amp!

It still seems to me that omitting the crossover gives up most of the advantages of biamping.
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