Hi, I have the following components and would like some help in connecting it all up in the best way.

The systems consists of: Musical Fidelity 3.2 CD, Pre Amp, 2 x Power Amps, Monitor Audio GR60's, Chord Signature Interconnects and Chord Odyssey Bi Wire speaker Cables. (Also, IsoTec Mini Sub but that’s not relevant to this discussion)

So; do I Bi Wire, Bi Amp, Mono Block or set fire to the lot? If so, Why? and finally, how?

Presently, I have connected the left channel from the pre amp to one power amp and the right to the other with 4 wires from each speaker connected to the posts on the corresponding channel on the power amp but doest that mean that I am only utilising ½ of each power amp?

HELP!!!!!!!!!!

What preamp and power amp are you using? I assume it's the A3 pre and power that go with the CD player.

It seems like you are trying to use stereo amps in 'bridged' mono, but instead are driving one channel from one amp and one channel from the other. I don't have the manual to hand, but I know that this amp has L/R pass-through phono sockets on the rear.

This means you can either bi-amp the system or use it in bridged mono mode. Either way, you need an extra pair of interconnects and a way of separating the bi-wire terminations at the amplifier end on your speaker cables (or buy two pairs of loudspeaker cables). And, as the A3 power amps are dual mono affairs, whether you bridge or bi-amp makes no difference, so to make identifying things easier, we'll go with bi-amping.

Here's how you do it. Take the preamp outputs and connect them to the left and right channel inputs of one power amplifier. Then plug the new, second set of interconnects from the left and right channel pass-through outputs on the back of this first power amplifier to the left and right channel inputs of the second power amplifier.

Assuming you have two sets of identical loudspeaker cables, take one pair from the left and right speaker terminals of the first amplifier and connect these to the left and right HF terminals on the loudspeakers. Now take the second pair of loudspeaker cables and connect the left and right amplifier terminals at one end and the left and right LF loudspeaker terminals at the other. Make sure the bi-wire 'jump leads' or gold-plated copper connector at the back of the speaker terminals is removed, too.

Bingo! you have just bi-amped your system. If you have no life, you could try experimenting to see if the first amp sounds better connected to the LF of HF connectors.

I hope that makes sense, of sorts.

Thank you Alan,

The CD, Pre and both Power amps are all M.F. 3.2's and the speaker cables are bi wire. It should really rock and I know it can do better!

I'll give it ago.

Steve

Alan,

I'm also experimenting bi-amp in my stereo system that is combined to my HT.
My concern is mainly how to have a better sound quality in bi-amp.
Would you say that is better using 2 identical solid-state power or it would be better using a valve power + solid state power ?

Thanks for your help.

Januário

Always use EXACTLY the same power amplifier throughout. If the input sensitivity, power output or anything else differs from amp to amp, you will wreck the sound quality.

Alan,
Would you believe that a hand-made valve amp can be adjusted to match the sensitivity with other solid-state power?
Or is a foolishness ?

That's really not going to work. You will need to bias the valves periodically, and in so doing you will change the amplifier's gain slightly.

If you are set on doing this, it's best to go active and use the crossover point before the power amps.

Thanks a lot Alan.
Not yet. I'm about to make up my mind on this.
I'm going to test an old brand, Acurus A-250, equal the one I already have and I guess I will be able to see if I 'll go on this way or valve. With Acurus would be easier to end a wish. A valve would get another 30-60 days to hand it. so,,,,,,
Appreciated your feedback.

Although it would be very hard having valves for the tweeters and solid state for the woofers would be perfect.

Perhaps we will see hybird integrated systems with this in the future?

HI Alan,
Another question:
Is there anything that a valve pre-amp need to go thru to have two output to bi-amp ???
Am already using two power Acurus A-250 but the guy told me that my valve pre-amp was not projected to bi-amp. How that sounds for you ?

Cheers
Januario

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