Bi-Amping

VR3

You know what. I look at my speakers, and the cost of wire and can't help to think to myself, bi-wiring is hog wash! Now, I can actually see *how* bi-amping *could* help my speakers. I am honestly looking into it. After I get my SVS, I may just *not* get a center channel and repair my RT35i get some shelves built and buy another Adcom 545 amp. Because, right when it boils down to cost a seperate amp cost as much as Bi-Wire cables.

So for you guys out there that have tried bi-wire and bi-amping; what are your thoughts and opinions? Will be interesting to read what you say. Please do not make this a flame war, this thread right here will mark my future decisions. Thank You.

rs159

Bi-amping is definately worth it, especially for bass heads like yourself that take the system to the limits. Pictures say alot. http://www.t-linespeakers.org/oddsends/biamp/Index.html

VR3

Might just have to get into Bi-amping. It looks promising in my future. All depends on Christmas, Birthday, and Summer next year...

pjdami

Mx,

In order to bi-amp you will have to have two pairs of wires run to your mains regardless, so bi-wiring is a good place to start. I know your budget is tight, so I would recommend Monster XP HP or Ixos speaker wire that you can get at about $0.60 / foot.

Bi-amping in my opinion would be overkill for your system in such a small room. Perhaps if you had a living room or a Home Theater room setup then it could make a difference.

In my opinion, work on getting yourself a sub and then that center channel and get another tweeter for the RT35i so you can use these for surrounds over getting another amp. This will yield a killer home theater setup for you.

I don't understand how you say that getting more speaker wire to bi-amp is just as expensive as another amp?

If you decide to bi-amp, then you can either vertical bi-amp or horizontal bi-amp. There was a thread way back that discussed these two situations. For bi-amping you should have two identical amplifiers although I have heard of people using solid state amps to run the lows in a horizontal configuration and a tube amp to run the highs for the smoother highs that some prefer.

Lots of choices here bud. I think you are fine with the amps you have though. One for the mains, one for the center, and one for the surrounds. Ron-P has a similar setup to you and I see that he has four adcom amps. Checked his showcase but he don't mention that he is bi-amping but I would imagine he is.

Just my opinion and what I would do..

Paul

VR3

Well, I know you have to run 2 lines of wire to the speaker if you bi amp to. But I prefer to lay down the money on an amp so I can actually see it is doing something than lay down the same money on the wire and just know its there and no one else will really care...

Besides, I see no logical way that BiWiring could help a speaker, and in truth - I think its BS. I would have to try it though.

Ron has his biamped...

I am going to replace the tweeter in the RT35i and use them as surrounds. It is on my list.....

I plan to get the CSi40 as a center channel

and a SVS PCi 20-39 for the sub


--- Yeah having seperate amps in my room is overkill. Heck...having towers or even more than 2 speakers in my room is overkill. But I demand the best out of my system, and my other alternative over bi-amping is buying a GFA-555 and its to big....

In other words...the 545 can't really push my RTi70 to my listening levels (when I want to jam - not everyday listening levels). Biwiring wouldnt help me here unless they have wire with amps...lol

Well all the bi-wire premade wires I have seen cost like 100-150 up to 300. Thats the cheapest.

I plan to upgrade all my wires and cables also. I plan to get the IXOS and Radioshack Fusion.

I could do some ghetto biamping. One of my amps have A/B switching...

If I were to biamp really though...

I would run 60 watts to the top post, and 100 watts to the bottum post... just my 2 cents. I plan to biamp my center channel too..

Here is my Setup...or future...

Mains:
RTi70 Bi-Amped with Adcom GFA-535 (Top Post), Adcom GFA 545 II (Bottum Post) - Ran with IXOS wire, Radioshack Fusion between amp and receiver

Center:
CSi40 - Biamped with the Original GFA-535 (on the A/B Left side terminals) - Ran with IXOS wire, Radioshack Fusion between amp and receiver

Surrounds:
RT35i - Adcom GFA 535II - Ran with IXOS wire and Radioshack Fusion between amp and receiver

Subwoofer: SVS PCi 20-39

All Cables will be Radioshack Fusion....and IXOS wire

I will try Bi-Wiring before I buy another amp to see if I hear the difference. If I don't...I will buy the amp. At first though, I am going to borrow my Dad's extra Adcom to see if I hear a difference. Heck...I could try it now If I wanted to. I just don't have the wire to justify it...

Keep the opinions coming....

Thank ya PJ

Fastmerc

Trey,
Just a curiosity question for ya...I know you are fan of PE and Adcom Just wondering why you havent mated your Adcom amps to an Adcom pre...like the new 860...seems to be a reasonable priced pre with all the new goodies...Probably less expensive than the PE I would think.

VR3

the PE was 400 bucks...lol. I plan to get an Outlaw Preamp. I hear Adcom's pres are not all their cracked up to be -- thats later down the line though. I need new wire, and speaker before that.

danger boy

Sid

how much do Adcom 535's and 545's run? Just curious. Why those amps? Ever think about bumping up the amps to something bigger? I have a Adcom 5400 and it's nice and powerful. 125w ch high current.

VR3

Danger,
The GFA 5400 is the same amp as the 545, just 25 more watts and 200 dollars more...lol!

The 535 runs for about 150-170, and the 545 runs for about 200-250. I would get the 555, but they run around 300-400. They're to big too...

I would only get the 535 or the 545 - because they mate with my other amps and I like the Adcom sound.