[net.audio] To Bi-amp Or Not To Bi-amp

ksmith@katadn.DEC (08/26/85)

I WOULD LIKE TO BE ABLE TO INCREASE THE VOLUME WITH MY STEREO SYSTEM, AS THE
LISTENING ROOM IS VERY LARGE, WITHOUT LOSING ANY OF THE SOUND CHARACTERISTICS
OR QUALITY I HAVE GROWN ACCUSTOMED TO AT LOWER VOLUMES.

THE SYSTEM INLCUDES THE FOLLOWING:

SPEAKERS.............CHAPMAN T-17
POWER................BRYSTON 4B
PREAMP...............NAD 1020
WIRES................FULTON BROWN
CONNECTORS...........VAMPIRE
TAPE DECK............NAKAMICHI LX-3
TURNTABLE............NAD 5080 WITH GRADO CARTRIDGE

THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.

1. WOULD IT HELP TO BI-AMP?
2. ACTUALLY, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BI-AMPING?
3. WITH THESE SPEAKERS, DO I NEED ANOTHER 4B, OR WOULD A 2B DO IT? 
4. IS THERE A POINT WHERE THE SPEAKERS WOULD CLIP BEFORE THE AMPLIFIERS?

I USED TO PLAY IN A BAND, AND WE BI-AMPED OUR SYSTEM, AND I WAS TOLD THAT
THE HIGHS COULD EASILY BE PUSHED WITH 50 WATTS OR LESS, AND IN FACT WE POWERED
OUR HIGH END WITH A SMALL CROWN AMP.  HOWEVER, THE LOCAL STEREO DEALER TELLS
ME I NEED AT LEAST TWO 4B'S TO BI-AMP THESE SPEAKERS.

IF I GET A LARGE REPLY, I WOULD BE GLAD TO POST THE RESULTS TO THE NET FOR
ANYONE WHO MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

KENNEY SMITH

hall@beta.DEC (Dan Hall) (08/29/85)

>  KENNEY SMITH
 
>  THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS I HAVE.
 
>  1. WOULD IT HELP TO BI-AMP?
Yes!
>  2. ACTUALLY, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BI-AMPING?
Many!
>  3. WITH THESE SPEAKERS, DO I NEED ANOTHER 4B, OR WOULD A 2B DO IT? 
The more, the merrier!
>  4. IS THERE A POINT WHERE THE SPEAKERS WOULD CLIP BEFORE THE AMPLIFIERS?
No, sort of.

I bought a pair of Snell Type A's 8 months ago, and shortly thereafter was
given such a good deal on a Snell electronic crossover that I couldn't pass
it up even though I didn't have another amp.  Two weeks ago I ran into another
great deal:  A McIntosh MC275 75 watt tube amp for $100!  Now the McIntosh
drives the upper cabinets (tweeter and mid-range) and my Phase Linear 400
drives the woofers in the lower cabinets.  There is much more to be gained
from bi-amping than just increased volume.  The bass is MUCH tighter and more
controlled, and the treble is more fluid and less restrained.  The imaging is
improved markedly, especially the depth of the soundstage, though that may be
more attributed to the tube top-end.

I don't recall the power rating of the Bryston amps, and I'm unfamiliar with
Chapman's speakers, but there shouldn't be any need to have crazy amounts of
power for the treble.  Unless of course you have the money to blow, then by
all means, go for it!  As far as your last question, speakers don't really
clip so much as they run out of excursion, i.e. the voice coil slams into the
magnet or goes in the other direction and tries to send the speaker cone
across the room.  If you are bi-amping, this is ear-bleeding volume we're
talking about here. 8^)

Bi-amp!  Do it!  It is one of the most audible improvements you can make in 
the sound of your stereo system and besides, it looks impressive as hell!!

Dan Hall
decwrl!dec-rhea!dec-beta!hall