Bi-Amp question........

Polkaguy58

My buddy found this NILES stereo L-Pad controller box in his closet full of stuff, which gave me an idea that I thought I might like to try.
As I'd mentioned before, I think the tweeters in my SVS towers are a bit forward sounding.
I'm wondering if I could tame them a bit by running the "A" channels through the Niles to the tweeters and the "B" channels to the woofers.
That way, I can dial the tweeters back in the mix.
Any thoughts ?

rpf65

What are you currently using to power your speakers?

Polkaguy58

A Marantz 80 watt per channel integrated amp.
I meant the A/B speaker outs not channels also.

gp4jesus

Polkaguy58 wrote: »

My buddy found this NILES stereo L-Pad controller... ...which gave me an idea that I thought I might like to try. I think the tweeters in my SVS towers are a bit forward sounding.
...If I could tame them a bit by running the "A" channels through the Niles to the tweeters and the "B" channels to the woofers... ...dial the tweeters back in the mix.
Any thoughts ?

try it. No harm, no foul if you don't like it. Further, amps, ICs, and speaker cables can do only so much to "correct" such problems. IIRC someone used a 4 ohm as a tweeter jumper on RTi 4s & LOVED it

Take it from someone who did "the real deal" triamping RTi A7s* & a CSi A6* w/"preferred" amps. While they're* MUUUCH better, I'm looking to upgrade the tweeters one day.

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/174880/tri-amped-rti-a7#latest

http://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/175612/tri-amped-csi-a6#latest

rpf65

Not knowing what your system consists of if you haven't already did any of these, I would start with:

Replacing the stock jumpers with higher quality ones. This is probably one of the most overlooked and biggest bang for the buck improvement one can make.

Power conditioner, protecting your gear and getting clean power to it should come before one even thinks of adding more power.

Interconnects and speaker cables. Cheap wire, bad termination, and connectors that don't grip properly just aren't worth it. Not advocating high dollar cables by any means. Good quality cables don't have to be expensive.

As far as adding an amp, I think you would have better results using a high current 2-channel amp with good quality jumpers than trying to bi-amp with a lesser quality amp. Not saying Niles doesn't make quality gear, just don't see many people, if any running them in 2-channel systems. Mainly see those in HT systems powering surrounds.

gp4jesus

+1 on power conditioning your low-current equipment, wimpy-sized cable, and quality speaker power.

Polkaguy58

As far as power conditioning goes, I run a Triplite system that I used to employ for my gear back in my recording days.
My speaker cables are stock 16 gauge speaker wire, less than 10 feet in length, so I doubt these old tinitus plagued ears will appreciate overly expensive mega-cables in that short of a run.
I'm quite happy with my mid-fi thanks.

tonyb

Your not happy if your complaining about the sound from your tweets. Plus nobody suggested mega buck cables, just better ones. At the very least, Svs towers would benefit from a larger gauge, 12 gauge.

mrloren

Here is some good speaker wire that is affordable http://douglasconnection.com/Furez-12-AWG-2-Conductor-Speaker-Cable-Raw-FZ122.htm

some Banana's https://www.amazon.com/SureGrip-100-BFA-Silver-12/dp/B01ERUR330/ref=pd_sim_23_7?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B01ERUR330&pd_rd_r=FYJT36B43PP7NVSTGK4Q&pd_rd_w=bnQo9&pd_rd_wg=R6noO&psc=1&refRID=FYJT36B43PP7NVSTGK4Q

Less than $100 and you can make some nice wires

gp4jesus

tonyb wrote: »

...would benefit from a larger gauge, 12 gauge.

. +2!
Better still, if it will fit your present or future connectors, some 10 ga from Blue Jeans - competitively $d.

Polkaguy58

tonyb wrote: »

Your not happy if your complaining about the sound from your tweets. Plus nobody suggested mega buck cables, just better ones. At the very least, Svs towers would benefit from a larger gauge, 12 gauge.

I hope I haven't come off as complaining about anything in my posts, because I'm not.
I'm just stating the facts the way I see them and in this case it was that I thought my SVS tweeters were too hot.
I fixed that problem and it cost me 25 dollars to do it.
Sorry if I don't see eye to eye with you on the whole fancy cable thing, but until the day that I can actually sit down and A/B a set up with and without boutique cables, then I probably won't go that route.
My system, though it's better than anything that I've ever owned is more than likely low to mid-fi at best to a lot of folk here.............I'm ok with that.
I will however try and get out to find some better gauge wire.
The 16 gauge was the best I could find in the area, as I'm grounded until motorcycle season starts next spring.

mrloren

Oh my were not recommending fancy boutique cables. BJC and Doug's Furez are some of the best bang for the buck you can get. The $1 or so a foot is not bad for quality speaker wire.

I use to be in the Monoprice cables. I changed out the Monoprice 12AWG speaker wire for Doug's 10AWG Furez and yes it did make a difference. I was not the only one who noticed. When my wife ask what changed, I knew I was not alone.

To each their own but I did notice nice improvements moving HDMI cables to Audioquest and speaker wire to Furez

Polkaguy58

Cool !
I'll look into them.
My only problem might be that they won't fit into the old school spring type in/out connectors on the Niles box, but I'm sure I can adapt with some end pins that I have somewhere in the closet.

pitdogg2

Polkaguy58 wrote: »

Cool !
I'll look into them.
My only problem might be that they won't fit into the old school spring type in/out connectors on the Niles box, but I'm sure I can adapt with some end pins that I have somewhere in the closet.

Pins are your huckleberry

Polkaguy58

Bi-Wiring Epilogue:
So, because it's a rainy day and I just can't leave well enough alone, I decided to see what the speakers would sound like bi-wired, but without my Niles volume control on the tweeters.
I also switched the -3db tweeter toggle on the back of the SVS Towers to 0 and even activated the CD Direct button on the Marantz, for the most unaltered sound that my system is capable of producing.
I've come to the conclusion, that my ears seem to be geared for sound that is slightly "dumbed down" and warm in nature.
That's probably why I tend to gravitate to vintage recievers and speakers with silk dome tweeters, as opposed to Klipsch like horns and high end pre/power amp sytems that can audibly point out every little flaw throughout the audio chain and beyond to the actual recordings.
I think if I ever made the great leap into audio nirvana, that I'd probably have to throw out 3/4 of my music collection.
To make a long story shorter:
I put the Niles back into the tweeter chain, switched off the CD Direct button, added a tad of midrange and backed the tweeters down a couple of clicks.
Now I'm home again.
A wise old orangatan once said: "Be careful what you seek Taylor........You may not like what you find out there."