Bi-amping... use pre-outs w/crossover?

Sparky

I have a 200wpc amp (used) coming next week to add to my system (see below). I want to bi-amp using my receiver for the Main L/R highs and amp for Main L/R lows. The system is fine as it is now for 5.1, but in 2 channel mode I need more power for the 150s.

Now I know there are those that disagree about whether I should bi-amp using my receiver, but I want to give it a try. If it doesn't work then I go a different route. No big deal.

My question is, given the above scenario, where and/or should I use a crossover? Should I use a crossover on the pre-outs? Should I use a crossover on the highs? Both?

I'll be glad when I can sit down and enjoy this system for what it is and stop constantly thinking about how I can tweak it. It's supposed to be a source of enjoyment and relaxation, not one that adds stress and takes up much of my free time. Does it ever stop? I'm enjoying the learning process but not at the expense of listening time.

Thanks for the help,
Sparky

Fireman99

You may want to look into the (Amps) current that your recever and the new amp puts out. The reason I mention this is I biamped my 150's to 200wpc at 45amps and actualy lost bass response from the speakers compared to the 110wpc at 85amps the recever kicks out. If your new amp has more current then the recever ou should notice a pick up in the bass response.
Hope this helps a little.
Dan
P.S. If your a tweak freak like me it will never end just enjoy what you got and tweak it and enjoy even more

Sparky

Hi Fireman99,
Ok, now I have a really stupid question for you. Where do I find the current/amps for my receiver? I can't find anything in the Operating Instructions?

Thanks,
Sparky

ntculenuff

Originally posted by Sparky


I'll be glad when I can sit down and enjoy this system for what it is and stop constantly thinking about how I can tweak it. It's supposed to be a source of enjoyment and relaxation, not one that adds stress and takes up much of my free time. Does it ever stop?

too answer this ?....
NO

tweaking is what makes it fun
just when you can say this sounds incredible you will say "i just need......." too complete the set up

Fireman99

Look in the owners manual under specs it should say in there or go to the web site for the recever and see if they have an downloadable spec sheet for your recever.
Dan

walk

You don't need a crossover, the speakers have one built-in.

pjdami

You don't need a crossover, the speakers have one built-in.

This is correct. Remove the brass jumper plates on your 150s and run the receiver speaker outputs with speaker wire to the top binding posts on your speakers. Then run the preamp out on your receiver to the amp and run speaker wire from the amp to the bottom binding posts on your speakers. If your amp has a variable input gain adjustment, you can then adjust your amp so that your bass matches your highs. If your amp has a fixed gain then you very well may have too much bass because of the mismatch in watts between the amp and the receiver and the sound will be unbalanced.

Tour2ma

Correct about the cross-over. An external would not even be an option with the AVR supplying half the amplification.

F99,
Not sure about your 2 ch amp, but your AVR amperage rating is likely to be a total for all channels.

Sparky

Thanks for all the input guys. You saved me from spending some hard earned money on another gadget.

I can't find the amperage for my receiver anywhere. It's not in the spec sheet and Denon has nothing online for this "older" model. Is it important to know what the amperage of the AVR is before I hook up my amp?

Thanks,
Sparky

Fireman99

It is just one less varriable if you know it. Will it affect performance... maybe but it won't hurt your equipment to hook it up and test it out with your own ears.
Dan

Tour2ma

Even when you can find amperage specs, they are stated differently by different manf's... Some do state per channel; others state the sum total for all channels.

Fireman99

Tour you are correct with the system amps my recever is capable of +/- 85 amps of HCC and the Amp is capable of +/- 45 amps of HCC. My recever is a 5.1ch with pre outs for 7.1 and the Amp is a 8 ch amp.
I was just helping Sparky to understand that now all Watts are equal there are other variables in the equasion.
Dan

Sparky

Guys... I feel like an idiot here. Trust me, I'm not. :-) I have both manuals (Denon AVR-5600 and Denon POA-2800) here in front of me and the word "amp" does not appear in the Spec sheet for either one. What am I missing? There are all the specs for Watts but I assume you are looking for Watts and NOT Amps. Can someone explain the difference to me?

Thanks,
Sparky

Sparky

I may have found something. In the Power Consumption Section for the amplifier it says 9 A and for the receiver 9.1 A. Is this what you were referring to? These numbers sound low to me, but then again, I have no idea what I'm talking about.

Sparky

Fireman99

Sparky what your refering to there is the cosumption of the recever (how much power it draws from the AC outlet.
I was just looking over a Dennon recever book and It doesnt show the Current or amps for there recever. You could E-Mail them and ask for the HCC (High Instantaneous Current Capability) of your two models and they should be able to give you an answer.
Dan

Sparky

Thanks Dan, I'll do that.

Sparky