How to Bi-amp and maybe Tri-amp

[Bgoodhope]

Can anyone provide me with basic guidance on how to bi-amp or tri-amp a set of speakers? I made some DIY cabinets that have E145-8 for the low end 2440 drivers for mid range and 075 tweeters. I am currently using the LX5 and N7000 for my crossovers.
I would like to purchase a 2 or 3 way electronic crossover, and I guess my basic questions are:
If I Bi-amp will I need 2 amplifiers? My guess is the question answers itself. Yes
If I do a two way crossover with a three way system, would I still need the passive crossover for the mid and highs?
Is there any schematics that I could refer to?
Does all the power go into the crossover and get divided and distributed from there to the different speakers?
Does it matter if the high frequency amp is Class A and the low frequency power is Class A/B?
Years ago I heard a bi-amp'd pair of 4350's and it was quite impressive but I never bothered to look at how it was wired up.
I hope these are not really dumb questions
Thanks in advance.
Bill Goodhope

[Val]

Passive crossovers divide power amp output between various drivers.

Active crossovers divide pre-amp output between power amps which in turn drive the speakers.

I'm considering tri-amping my LE15A/372/075 rig and have attached a draft diagram I've been working on. Comments welcome.

[hjames]

Many folks do biAmp by splitting the bass leg off their existing crossover, and using an electronic crossover to feed 2 power amps.
In this configuration, the low split goes directly to a high power amp that feeds the Woofer directly.

The high split goes to the passive that feeds the mid and high F drivers.
Because its easier to hear noise among the high Freq drivers, you want the quietest amp on the high split. The Bass amp can be a bit lesser quality but higher powered.

The quality of your electronic crossover will also affect your ultimate sound - if you buy a cheap, noisy crossover, it can overcome any advantage you gained by biamping.

Do you have any existing amp gear? I tried doing this first with an older receiver and found my Front preamp out levels weren't really high enough to drive the crossover properly, so I had to run the levels higher and, again, wound up with more noise ...

I got a better receiver and that is now working fine. But many folks feel the only worthwhile way to REALLY do this is using separate components (Preamp, etc) and not using a "receiver" as the front end ...

I suffer with the receiver because I like the convenience of a remote for everything ...

Can anyone provide me with basic guidance on how to bi-amp or tri-amp a set of speakers? I made some DIY cabinets that have E145-8 for the low end 2440 drivers for mid range and 075 tweeters. I am currently using the LX5 and N7000 for my crossovers.
I would like to purchase a 2 or 3 way electronic crossover, and I guess my basic questions are:
If I Bi-amp will I need 2 amplifiers? My guess is the question answers itself. Yes
If I do a two way crossover with a three way system, would I still need the passive crossover for the mid and highs?
Is there any schematics that I could refer to?
Does all the power go into the crossover and get divided and distributed from there to the different speakers?
Does it matter if the high frequency amp is Class A and the low frequency power is Class A/B?
Years ago I heard a bi-amp'd pair of 4350's and it was quite impressive but I never bothered to look at how it was wired up.
I hope these are not really dumb questions
Thanks in advance.
Bill Goodhope

[Val]

I suffer with the receiver because I like the convenience of a remote for everything ...

Are you using receiver that has pre-amp outputs for all channels? Is that 5.1?

Thanks!

[hjames]

Are you using receiver that has pre-amp outputs for all channels? Is that 5.1?

Thanks!

OK, I have a cheapie Hk AVR335 I think - something like 60w/ch
it can do 7.1 but I run it in 5.1 mode.
I can add amps for the other channels, or upgrade to a higher power HK receiver if I had a larger room or needed more power.

I use the internal amps for the surround channels, they only run when I'm playing surround sources
(TV/TIVO/DVD/DVD-Audio/SACD/etc)
For music the system pretty much drives just the 2 front mains via biamp

HKs rear amp outputs feed the pair of L20Ts hanging in the back.
HK Center amp output feeds a JBL LC2
HK Sub preamp out feeds an old Hk Citation 22 in bridged mode and that feeds a JBl B380 sub ...
HK Preamp out Front L/Front R go to biamp system rack below ...



For the BiAmp stuff ...
Front L & R preamp out feeds Yamaha 31band EQ,
that feeds Ashley XR 1001 active crossover -
high split feeds JBL/UREI 6230 amp
Low split feeds JBL/UREI 6260 Amp (but I'm on the verge of replacing that with a 6290 amp for more headroom).

The Top unit is an Adcom sequenced power switcher, powers the accessories up first & the amps up last
and powers the amps down first and accessories last to avoid thumps.

[Val]

Very helpful...thanks

[1audiohack]

Can anyone provide me with basic guidance on how to bi-amp or tri-amp a set of speakers?

I live in Las Vegas and have a bunch of idle gear, if I can help give a yell.
Barry.

[Mr. Widget]

Very helpful...thanks

Hey Val, I am regularly in the PA area... and I have a pile of active crossovers that are not in use. I could lend you an Ashley, Rane, or Audio Arts... I have others that are also in storage, but they are either too expensive, too rare, or not quite working...

send me a PM if you'd like a loaner and help with set up.


Widget

[JBL 4645]

Low split feeds JBL/UREI 6260 Amp (but I'm on the verge of replacing that with a 6290 amp for more headroom).

Headroom what in the blazes are you doing to that 6290 headroom are you kidding, that packed a wallop at the Empire with its original 13KW JBL THX sound system. That room is small about the same size give or take a few -+ inches. Keep the 6290 or get a few more of them.

I need a slightly bigger amp for the JBL 4645 in my room as I fear the RA300 or even possibly an RA500 in bridge mode wouldn’t be enough, if you don’t want the 6290 ship it off to me, LOL just kidding keep it. I’ll be looking at possible Behrenger 2.4KW amp to run the sub safely, but those 6290 served many years at Empire with trilling impact.

Hey Val, I am regularly in the PA area... and I have a pile of active crossovers that are not in use. I could lend you an Ashley, Rane, or Audio Arts... I have others that are also in storage, but they are either too expensive, too rare, or not quite working...

send me a PM if you'd like a loaner and help with set up.


Widget

Now you’re reading Heathers posts too much its Ashly not Ashley LOL your not gay mate, thinking about me mate. LOL

[jbl_daddy]

The 6290 has excelent grunt / attack for your application. I used three 6290's for a short time. I wanted amps with no fans and changed to Crown K1's and a K2 running twin B380's, I love the attack and every time I turn it up it still makes my hair stand on end. Ps. I use a Crown VFX-2 crossover, the only problem is my wife has a bad taste in music.

Mark

[Mannermusic]

Can anyone provide me with basic guidance on how to bi-amp or tri-amp a set of speakers? I made some DIY cabinets that have E145-8 for the low end 2440 drivers for mid range and 075 tweeters. I am currently using the LX5 and N7000 for my crossovers.
I would like to purchase a 2 or 3 way electronic crossover, and I guess my basic questions are:
If I Bi-amp will I need 2 amplifiers? My guess is the question answers itself. Yes
If I do a two way crossover with a three way system, would I still need the passive crossover for the mid and highs?
Is there any schematics that I could refer to?
Does all the power go into the crossover and get divided and distributed from there to the different speakers?
Does it matter if the high frequency amp is Class A and the low frequency power is Class A/B?
Years ago I heard a bi-amp'd pair of 4350's and it was quite impressive but I never bothered to look at how it was wired up.
I hope these are not really dumb questions
Thanks in advance.
Bill Goodhope

See attached - lots of DIY info, products: http://www.marchandelec.com/

[Tweak48]

If I do a two way crossover with a three way system, would I still need the passive crossover for the mid and highs?

That's what I did with my L-300s, and they sounded much better this way than with the stock set-up. I used a low end (as in cheap) dbx 2 way crossover and ran the LF through a solid state amp directly to the woofers. Used a tube amp for the mids and HF, into the internal L-300 passive network.

It really opened things up on the top, and man that s/s amp ruled those 136 woofs with an iron fist!!!

Good luck!

[Val]

That's what I did with my L-300s...It really opened things up on the top, and man that s/s amp ruled those 136 woofs with an iron fist!!!

Good to hear. What is the crossover freq of the 136 in your active rig?

[Tweak48]

Good to hear. What is the crossover freq of the 136 in your active rig?

The crossover frequency of the dbx is continiously variable; I set it at 900hz. As I remember, the cross point on the passive internal network is 800hz, so it set the active one a bit higher so as not to get in trouble with the passive network.

[Val]

The crossover frequency of the dbx is continiously variable; I set it at 900hz. As I remember, the cross point on the passive internal network is 800hz, so it set the active one a bit higher so as not to get in trouble with the passive network.

Thanks!