passive biamp mon 60's

kappclark
kappclark Posts: 136
edited March 2011 in Speakers
I would like to passively biamp my polk 60's using 2 different amps...one is 80 wpc the other 50. the 50 is adjustable.


Can I passively biamp the monitor 60's by removing strap, and using one amp for highs, and other for lows ??

Or, should I actively biamp ?? Has anyone done this ??
*************************
** Bill Clark Windham, VT **
*************************
Post edited by kappclark on
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2011
    How do you plan on actively bi-amping? Are you talking about removing the internal passive XO? If not then you are wasting your time. Also some speakers work better with a passive XO to compensate for impedance issues... You are better off getting one good amp.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • FTGV
    FTGV Posts: 3,649
    edited March 2011
    kappclark wrote: »
    I would like to passively biamp my polk 60's using 2 different amps...one is 80 wpc the other 50. the 50 is adjustable.


    Can I passively biamp the monitor 60's by removing strap, and using one amp for highs, and other for lows ??

    Or, should I actively biamp ?? Has anyone done this ??
    Even with the ability to match the amp gains the only real benifit IMO of passive biamping is gaining a bit more power headroom.Actively biamping has the potential for big performance gains but it's not plug and play.To realise the full potential of going fully active the internal passive network would need to be disconnected,then the active network would need to be engineered/ optimised for those specific drivers in that enclosure.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,019
    edited March 2011
    You can only get so much performance out of the M60's. Being as easy as they are to drive, bi-amping in any form is probably a waste. Most any receiver can drive them to what they are capable of. That said, if you want to amp them, one good amp is all you need to squeeze out that last bit in them.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • kappclark
    kappclark Posts: 136
    edited March 2011
    Thanks everyone ...

    I did a quick hookup today, (a Parasound HCA500 for bass/mids and an HK 3380 receiver for tweets). HK is 80 wpc, Parasound is 50.

    I did hearr clearly tighter and better bass, but the frequency balance was clearly off (Natalie Merchant actually did not sound pleasant) and listening fatigue set in .. figured I needed to tone down the tweeters.. I suppose I could wire in a stereo Lpad to try to balance the output, but I think I will just slap those jumpers back on and let my Parasound amp take on its original duty..

    I can just see me wasting so much time stressing over the right settings instead of trusting the original pleasing sound of the M60's ..

    Thanks again.
    *************************
    ** Bill Clark Windham, VT **
    *************************
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter