What does bi-amping do to the 707?
Comments
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Hmmm, alright!
Well, thanks for all of your help!
Looks like I will just stick to the 7.2 set up. -
Marketing hype. Do your tweeters need 200 watts? I think not... -
Your AVR and other units like the Pioneer SC units with Class D amps, and upper end units from the likes of Onkyo, Denon, and other top units are about as powerful as you can get in a modern AVR in the $2K-$3K price range. Only the flagship $5K+ units approach the power level of a good outboard amplifier. Still, a typical quality 2ch or multi-channel amp is going to have a much more stout power supply and output current ability. Bi-amping is for those that are using an electronic crossover and want to use different amps for different drivers. This removes the bottleneck (passive crossovers) and opens up the door to different amp choices. Maybe one wants to use a low watt class A on the tweets, a tube amp on their mids, and a monster class A/B on their dual 10" midbass driver?.
Leave bi-amping to those with hi-end systems or DIY projects. In a home theater system, one is better to put a stout 2 ch or 3 ch amp on the fronts and let the AVR handle the rest. Bi-amping with your AVR will have no real net gain at reference levels when stuff is exploding all around you....the current demand is coming from the same (space restricted) power source rather you have two speakers connected or nine!
Lets have some fun and look at some numbers:
AVR's
Onkyo TX-NR838 Test Bench
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 134.9 / 173.4
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 110.5 / 129.3
7 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 84.9 / 100.0
Marantz SR7008 Test Bench
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 122.5 / 148.0
2 channels continuously driven, 4 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 195.4 / 216.8
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 101.2 / 111.5
7 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 68.8 / 82.2
Cambridge Audio CXR120 Test Bench
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 96.3 / 109.3
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 77.1 / 87.3
7 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 67.6 / 81.1
Pioneer Elite SC-89 Test Bench
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 165.8 / 191.6
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 138.0 / 158.2
7 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 114.6 / 129.9
AMPS
Parasound Halo A51
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 301.1 / 330.6
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 198.7 / 238.4
______________
Rotel RMB-1575 Amplifier
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 268.5 / 317.9
Cary Audio Model 7.125 Amplifier
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 121.1 / 141.0
7 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 119.5 / 136.5
Parasound 5250
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 287.7 / 325.6
2 channels continuously driven, 4 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 404.5 / 546.5
Outlaw 7500
2 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts @ 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 284.9 / 342.3
2 channels continuously driven, 4 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 447.6 / 492.8
5 channels continuously driven, 8 ohms (watts at 0.1% / 1.0% THD): 260.1 / 301.1
Dedicated amps are impressive but the numbers only tell half of the story. Go listen to a well set up system that has dedicated individual amps on each channel. The level of detail, impact, and clarity will astound you! Once you experience this.....the idea of bi-amping with an AVR will be laughable to you!
2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
