2. amps-preamps
  3. 1290361294

Does Bi-amping really make a difference in sound?

I have really been torn in the past week in how I should improve my Home theater stereo System. I presently own the following gear:

Oppo Blu-ray Player
Yaqin Tube Buffer (w/ 6SN7 Tung Sol Oval plate Tubes)
Cambridge Audio DAC Magic
NAD C-375 Integrated Amplifier
PSB Synchrony Two loudspeakers
Nordost Red Dawn Ics
Audioquest VDM-X Digital Cable

An experienced audiophile and design engineer who designs speakers and custom electronic gear has told me that in order to improve my sound drastically I need to Bi-amp my speakers. Since PSB speakers have separate crossovers for the tweeter/mid and bass, that I could take advantage of this and bi-amp them and really make them sing.

I was told that I should buy a another amplifier and use the Pre outs of the NAD C-375 Integrated amp and even tailor my sound by selecting the appropriate amp with the same power wattage.
I am thinking of getting an NAD C-275 or the Vincent Audio SP-331 Power Amp to connect to the Pre outs of my NAD C-375 and bi-amp my speakers with two sets of Harmonic Technology Melody cables running shotgun to my speakers.

I also plan to upgrade my digital cable to the HT Digital Silver cable and maybe the HT Silway link Silver to my DAC to NAD C-375 connection over my present Nordost Red Dawn.

My dealer friend disagrees with my approach that bi-amping will improve my sound as he said he conducted a similar setup with the PSB Synchrony Ones in his store and did not hear any differences. I am wondering if he is just wants to steer me in the direction of getting a Rogue Audio Preamp and NAD C-275 combination, which I have considered as well.

Any expertise and advice in this situation would be greatly appreciated. I unfortunately cannot tryout these situations or go listen to them in a store due to my location and have to rely on people’s advice.
rlh157
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
Yes, it does make a difference but results vary widely and according to your taste so it is almost impossible to offer generalizations. The literature on this is exhaustive and there is little agreement on most aspects; but most would tell you that you will hear a difference. Better, worse, just different; take your pick; every thing you do in this line is likely to give different results and they are largely unpredictable.
mechans
2,999 posts
 
My $.02 on your using Tung Sol Round Plate in a tube buffer. I think it is a shame to use those precious nearly extinct tube for that purpose. A tube buffer is just that, a buffer, where the tubes aid in matching impedances between to other pieces of gear. In your set up I failed to see a real need for a tube buffer at all.
Instead get a 6SN7 based preamp if you really want to hear what those extremely valuable tubes can do. Try them in a gain stage if they are not burned out or microphonic. If microphonic they can also have a significant but less well heard impact as driver tubes.
Another thought would be to buy an integrated with a tubed preamp section although I don't know any off the top of my head any hybrid SS integrated that uses them as the preamp gain stage. Many all tube integrateds use them as drivers or possibly phase splitters and inverters but not usually.
Any of those chioces will have a big impact on your sound. As for biamping I think if you get the right external active X-over you can use SS amps for the woofers and tube amps on top. This is a logical but evidently difficult approach to improving sound.
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
Biamping is a novice's dream. But actually not a good idea for the unaware. I would never recommend a person go biamp. Only if they know what they are doing, and are certain of what the are doing, THEN yeah, good.
Way too many folks want to biamp and do not know what it entails, nor what the results will be. At best it is just as good as spending the money on a single much better amp, and average, one cannot tell any difference, and at worst it sounds crummy AND you blew the money for nothing.
So my adviceis to skip biamping, unless the person who said 'do it' is gonna let you audition the setup and at no cost to you if you decide it is not for you.
I would definitely spend the money to upgrade on a better (single amp, or a pair of monoblocks) amp, and sell your old one.
This question of biamping comes up really often, and the same advice is appropriate for nearly all folks asking about biamping.
Some folks DO biamp very successfully, and praise the results. But for the average person it really is not a good idea. (if you want to try it, and can spend the money with no regrets, and like to fool around with your stuff then go for it. Otherwise forget it.)
rlh157 OP
7 posts
 
Mechans, trust me, I thought the same thing. I got the tube buffer to economically introduce tube sound into the digital sources. I have already gotten an RMA# for the Tube Buffer as I am thinking of sending it back, and my heart feels I should get a Rogue 99, which can use those precious 6SN7s. I also have a pair of Sylvania WGT/As as well to compliment that Rogue Preamp.

I am thinking along the same lines that this bi-amp represents a huge risk for potential great disappointment given the money I would have to invest. I think logically I am much safer in getting either a Rogue Integrated Amp, or Rogue 99 Preamp and Solid State amp combination.

I use to own BAT gear some years back and crave that tube heaven again. I use to own a BAT VK-60 amp and a BAT VK-3i preamp, along with a MMF 7.1 Turntable, and Vandersteen 2ci speakers. Trying to slowly get back to that level. I just have given up on Analog and using only digital sources now.
tobias
1,534 posts
 
I have heard great biamplified systems, both active and passive, and I have also heard great monoamplified systems (many more of them). The great monoamplified systems never made me think, "Now what this system needs is biamplification."

Which leads me to conclude that UHF Magazine was right when they wrote "one great amp will beat two lesser ones", and that there is some great advice in this thread.
More to discover