Klobb Posted October 11, 2021 Posted October 11, 2021 I'll explain my situation. Here are the current relevant components: Pioneer VSX-932 AVR Energy RC-30 speakers (bi-amped) I currently have a suboptimal setup. I run my turntable through a phono (IFI Zen Phono) into a AVR. The L+R speakers are bi-amped on the Pioneer on unsued height channels. Unfortunately the AVR (Pioneer VSX-932) doesn't have pre outs, so I cant use it as a pre-amp when listening to stereo (it doubles as a 5.1 system). I'm instead thinking of getting and unpowered amp/speaker switch (Beresford TC-7220 for example) and switching to a dedicated integrated stero amp when I want to listen to music. It'll allow me to have one set of speakers, but have independant amps for specialised listening. My question is, how does bi-amping/bi-wiring work in this scenario? The switch allows this function, but does a integrated amp? How would say a NAD C 368, which has the requiste binding posts at least, function in this scenario? Is there a better alternative or more optimal setup chain?
jeromelang Posted October 11, 2021 Posted October 11, 2021 Stop using bi-amping. Use bi-wiring instead, use only 1 set of amp channels to run 2 separate pair of speaker cables to your speakers. 1
almikel Posted October 12, 2021 Posted October 12, 2021 If you're using the passive crossovers in your Energy RC-30 speakers, and have a separate amp connected to each set of binding posts on your speakers, then this would be regarded as "passive bi-amping", and not gaining the benefits of "active bi-amping", which is having a low level/line level output from a pre-amp into a line level crossover, which splits the signal at line level into separate amplifiers to connect to each driver in your speakers. If this is your scenario, I agree with @jeromelang 17 hours ago, jeromelang said: Stop using bi-amping. Use bi-wiring instead, use only 1 set of amp channels to run 2 separate pair of speaker cables to your speakers. Passive bi-amping achieves marginal/if any benefit, with none of the benefits of active bi-amping, as you're still using the speaker's passive crossover. Try bi-wiring to see if it sounds better...but the difference will also be marginal IMHO over decent single speaker cables I wouldn't bother with the complexity of bi-wiring or passive bi-amping - just choose decent interconnects and speaker cables... cheers, Mike
Recommended Posts