How would you Bi-amp the front 3 speakers. (not wrong thread)

[Moonfly]

This may seem in the wrong thread but bare with me.

I have an 875 doing surround duties. At some point I'm going to demo the svs MTS towers and matching center and if I buy them I'm thinking of Bi-amping them. I was thinking along the line of a separate power amp to drive the front pair to maximize music performance. Now the SVS center is also Bi-ampable and to keep the front 3 uniform I would prefer to bi-amp this too or non. The 875 cant bi-amp 6 Ohm speakers and can only do the front pair anyways so theres alot to consider.

Now my question is, are ther bi-amplifiers available to power 3 speakers. If so would it then require a 3 channel effort or a stereo plus monobloc setup. Would it be worth going to all the effort of doing this anyway. Would using a seperate amp to the bass drivers and the 875 to the tweeters be the way forward and would the results be worth all the effort.

Depending on the answers it may even rule these speakers out for me.

I have posted a similar thread in the av section too but I thought this might be more your line of expertise.

Cheers.

[Para]

i wouldnt bother bi amping, its not proved to be worth while. if you were u need matching amps, so either two of the same as your current amp or x amount of power amps..

u may as well just get power amps to improve the sound if u can, but just single amp them.

[Moonfly]

Well my current amp is an AVR. I was hoping to uprgrade the front speakers to get the best from music but still keeping the HT top notch. I would use the 875 for the surrounds and for all processing duties. To further maximise music performance I was going to drive the front pair with their own power amp.

I'm not going to spend on an amp purely for driving tweeters so unless you can get a single bi-amp compatible amplifier then I wont be doing this. If though, I added say an Onkyo power amp would using the 875 to drive the tweeters be an option at least or is it really not that worth bothering with. Also how would I solve the issue of the center speaker anyways, because if it cant be solved without buying 2 mono blocs then that basically decides this for me too I guess.

I'm basically a 50/50 music and movies person that wants the best of both worlds and no comprimise

[Para]

you can add a power amp for music thats fine.. but u dont need to bi amp it. it is still proved as not doing anything to the sound, in fact it really only effects your wallet.

On my setup i have 3 power amps. although not all setup at the moment. but it goes as follows.. one for the fronts one for the rear and one for the center. if you wanted to bi amp the center then you could use a stereo power amp and then just use both channels or two monoblocks.

When bi amping the amps have to be identical, otherwise it wont sound right. so if you used the onkyo to drive just the tweeters, you should really use the same type of amp to drive the rest.

For music my amp has a pure direct mode that basically takes the analogue input and passes it straight though to my front power amp without hitting any circuits that may effect it.. This seems to be the only real way round as I am in the same boat as you 50/50 split.

[Moonfly]

Ive got pure audio mode too but this cuts out my sub. This is a problem for me at the minute as my speakers are the radius in my sig and they dont have the bass your really need. The crossover on the amp also only affetcts mivie playback apparently so 'm assuming that pure audio is strictly only for full range front music speakers. Is this correct and do you find pure audio mode making that much difference as I dont like it with my radius speakers.

How about adding a power amp just for the front pair for music. I feel as though this would upset a movies setup a bit so I really dont know what I should do.

[A-n-d-y]

When you demo the Speakers ask if it's possible to listen to them Bi-amped. If you can hear a difference and you prefer the sound then do it. Also ask for a home demo to make sure it sounds good in your listening room.

It made a difference in my setup. But it really depends on how it sounds to you.

Not sure if Onkyo make power amps? This may be the best bet as they will sound alike. You could mix different Brands of Amp and again see how it sounds.

[Para]

Originally Posted by Moonfly

Ive got pure audio mode too but this cuts out my sub. This is a problem for me at the minute as my speakers are the radius in my sig and they dont have the bass your really need. The crossover on the amp also only affetcts mivie playback apparently so 'm assuming that pure audio is strictly only for full range front music speakers. Is this correct and do you find pure audio mode making that much difference as I dont like it with my radius speakers.

How about adding a power amp just for the front pair for music. I feel as though this would upset a movies setup a bit so I really dont know what I should do.

Do you not have a setting to enable the sub via pure audio on your amp? or high level inputs on your sub??

Adding a power amp to the front channels should improve your movies to..

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by A-n-d-y

When you demo the Speakers ask if it's possible to listen to them Bi-amped. If you can hear a difference and you prefer the sound then do it. Also ask for a home demo to make sure it sounds good in your listening room.

It made a difference in my setup. But it really depends on how it sounds to you.

Not sure if Onkyo make power amps? This may be the best bet as they will sound alike. You could mix different Brands of Amp and again see how it sounds.

The only place they have these speakers is an exclusive dealership in kent, and I'm in Lancashire so theres the first obvious problem. They are fairly good though so I dont think listening to them bi-amped will be a problem.

Onkyo do separate amps but they are integrated amps rather than pure power amps so I think a separate power amp will have to be another brand. I'm looking at Primare and NAD at the minute.

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by Para

Do you not have a setting to enable the sub via pure audio on your amp? or high level inputs on your sub??

Adding a power amp to the front channels should improve your movies to..

The sub has a high level nuetrik speakon connection I could use, I might give that a whirl. I dont think the 875 allows the sub to be active via LFE when in pure audio mode, the manual states the LFE is only in effect for movies.

[Para]

the high level input will usually give better results.. Or has done for me, the bass gets tighter and more defined.. Try this and see if it helps as a speakon connector should be a cheaper way to start solving your problem.

[Moonfly]

Originally Posted by Para

the high level input will usually give better results.. Or has done for me, the bass gets tighter and more defined.. Try this and see if it helps as a speakon connector should be a cheaper way to start solving your problem.

Its not so much a problem, more an upgrade route in the not to distant future. As for the NS connector, Ive lost the manual for the REL, do you know which wire go to which speaker connectors?

[Para]

if you open up the connector it will show you! They are located where the wires screw into the connector as they are labeled. I think the one I have has it on the outside too, for one of the connections.

[Moonfly]

Cheers para, unfortunately all Im getting is a low level hum when the NS is plugged into the sub, even when the other end is connected to nothing. Pure audio mode still seems to just kill the bass completely so I think I'm going to give up on that one for ow.

[A-n-d-y]

Originally Posted by Moonfly

The only place they have these speakers is an exclusive dealership in kent, and I'm in Lancashire so theres the first obvious problem. They are fairly good though so I dont think listening to them bi-amped will be a problem.

Onkyo do separate amps but they are integrated amps rather than pure power amps so I think a separate power amp will have to be another brand. I'm looking at Primare and NAD at the minute.

The recently updated Arcam P90 or P35 stereo power amps came with the option of adding a 3rd channel. I think this option has been removed with the newer range but you could try and track down one of the older unit's at clearance prices or maybe even look on eBay. Look for P90/3 or P35/3.

[Para]

is it humming while connected and the amp turned on? If so might be an earth issue. Best way is to plug into same power socket as the amp is to get rid of this! Also check inside the connector to see if its wired properly. Sometimes one of the - cables is not connected and this will make it hum!