Bi-amping

[potee]

Please explain what bi-amping is and how and why it's done. also why are there four (4) wire conectors on some speakers. Thanks. I didn't think I was a noob but guess I'am.

[Solumnus]

Search bi-amping on Google. Or search the forum to get a better understanding. Bi-amping is basically hooking up 1 speaker to 2 different amps. There are 4 binding posts for bi-amping or bi-wiring your speakers. (Remove any jumper plates or wires before attempting either of these things.) Generally the top posts will feed the higher frequency drivers(tweeters, mids), and the bottom post will feed the lower frequency drivers(woofers).

[potee]

I only have (!) one amp so for the time being I won't worry about that. Thank You

[Pinktulip7]

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83530

[Hilbert]

Here's a good place to start reading:

http://www.polkaudio.com/education/showanswer.php?question_num=53

Maybe it will inspire you to get another amp. Or not.

[potee]

Here's a good place to start reading:

http://www.polkaudio.com/education/showanswer.php?question_num=53

Maybe it will inspire you to get another amp. Or not.

I most likely won't get another amp, but after my new speakers have a couple hundred hours on them I may try bi-wireing. Decideing to buy new speakers has turned into one hell of a learning curve for me just glad I found this forum.

[Serendipity]

Basically it is using more than one amp to power your speakers.

If money is not a concern, FOUR monoblocks would be awesome - one for the left channel highs, one for the left channel lows, one for the right channel highs, and one for the right channel lows.

[TECHNOKID]

Search bi-amping on Google. Or search the forum to get a better understanding. Bi-amping is basically hooking up 1 speaker to 2 different amps. There are 4 binding posts for bi-amping or bi-wiring your speakers. (Remove any jumper plates or wires before attempting either of these things.) Generally the top posts will feed the higher frequency drivers(tweeters, mids), and the bottom post will feed the lower frequency drivers(woofers).Actually, bi-amping does not necessarily have to come from differents amps but can come from different outputs of a single amp provided your amp can accomodate such. IE: If you are not using the "B" output on your amp, you could use to bi-amp your fronts for example.

[Serendipity]

Actually, bi-amping does not necessarily have to come from differents amps but can come from different outputs of a single amp provided your amp can accomodate such. IE: If you are not using the "B" output on your amp, you could use to bi-amp your fronts for example.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that is bi-amping.

I can use the Zone 2 output of my AVR to do the above, but the current is still limited by the power supply. I know that most AVR's output the rated power (e.g. 100W/ch) with two channels, but with seven channels driven the power output is lowered. Then that using multiple channels (or "B" speaker outputs) wouldn't provide much of a difference.

If the output transistors for the front channels are already using up 100% of the power supply, using two more channels (Zone 2) would cause the front output power to decrease. At least that's what I notice with my AVR.

[TECHNOKID]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that is bi-amping.

I can use the Zone 2 output of my AVR to do the above, but the current is still limited by the power supply. I know that most AVR's output the rated power (e.g. 100W/ch) with two channels, but with seven channels driven the power output is lowered. Then that using multiple channels (or "B" speaker outputs) wouldn't provide much of a difference.

If the output transistors for the front channels are already using up 100% of the power supply, using two more channels (Zone 2) would cause the front output power to decrease. At least that's what I notice with my AVR.However, if this is your only option (using "B" channels for example) while not providing you with substantial power gain it would at least provide you with the benifit of woofer and tweeter isolation and sharing of the work load amongst your outputs (not as much stress on an output transistor/IC and its dedicated circuitry).

Unfortunately, most people look/think power gain when considering bi-amping when in many cases, the aspect that actually benefits the most is the isolation since power gain is usually very insignificant since you need at least double the power to gain only a 3db. When you are seeking quality of sound for example, isolation has much more impact then power increase. We have to realize that our speaker passive cross overs are somewhat limited and do have leakage which provide some of the unwanted frequencies leakage, which can cause distortion and/or also cause more stress on our speakers.

If you look at bi-wiring for example, there is no advantage in power gain what so ever but it provides somewhat better woofer/tweeter separation due to twice the lenght in the cable (thus unwanted frequency dissipating and not returning back as strongly). I am not recommending or discouraging bi-wiring in any way shape or form but simply use it as an example to emphasize the important but overlooked separation benifit of bi-amping or tri-amping (which is a separate sub in addition) which seperates the 3 basic ranges (Low-Mid-High). Of course, having dedicated power amps for each individual frequecy rages will in the overall provide better quality in sound since you will not have to drive them to their limit to produce the desired power level of the sound.

Cheers :)

[dpowell]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that is bi-amping.

I can use the Zone 2 output of my AVR to do the above, but the current is still limited by the power supply. I know that most AVR's output the rated power (e.g. 100W/ch) with two channels, but with seven channels driven the power output is lowered.

Agreed and you are also limited by the input wattage the AVR can handle.

[GV#27]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think that is bi-amping.It isn't, that's essentially biwiring and IMO no real advantage as both outputs will be driven by the same output section of the amp.Also if the unit uses an A+B switch instead of separate A and B switches, the high and low sections of the speaker will be hooked up in series,not a good thing.