biamped hafler 500's or 1 carver m4.0t

ohskigod

just figured I'd get some insight / opinions. I'm going to try both either way.

I allready owned a Hafler500 and a Carver m4.0, both represents the best big watt solid state in my audio arsenal. I found a Hfler 500 on ebay getting no bids, and as a goof, put in a 280.00 bid. I figured If I won, I'd get a hafler 500 for 120.00 less than the last one I got....how could I lose?

well, I won.

so what do you guys think? is biamping hafler 500's to my AR9's worth the effort? seems some on Audiokarma tried it and liked it alot. lord knows there must be tons of frikkin power on tap. and i allways thought the highs were a little clearner on the hafler than the carver, but the carver wins in overall top to bottom drive over 1 haffler, but perhaps not 2.

as far as I know, the Carver does 500 watts in the AR9'S 4 OHM load

the Haffler does 250 into 8, and I believe 500 (or close to it) into 4 ohms. so biamping would be 500 watts to the 2 12" bass drivers and 500 watts to the tweet, mid, and midbass driver.

I'm not looking for more volume, but maybe some better sound just by the amps not working as hard as the carver at higher volumes. eh, who knows

George Grand

Why not just leave it up to your own ears, before the panel of experts that have never owned DH-500, M4.0t, OR a pair of AR-9's chimes in with their "expert" advice? My AR-9's sound better bi-amped. Maybe yours won't.

ohskigod

I hear ya George, believe me, I was trying it either way, opinions be damned. I was just curious about the "expert" opinions.

I did try to biamp the AR9's once, but with the carver on the bottom and an Anthem tube amp up top. eeeesh, it was bad. I had a feeling it would be, but had to find out on my own. The Carver has done the whole job since (and done it damn well)

I dont mind experiments not panning out, its how I learn.

heck, if the biamping works, the carver will go back to the home theater set up (did a damn fine job there too). If not, I'll have 2 haflers in my home theater line up (the surrounds need a beefier amp anyway). in other words, I have nothing to lose

BY the way, the trend of the Carver doing a "damn fine job" no matter where I put it has not gone unnoticed, which is the reason why I will never part with it, despite some negative opinions here....and ridiculous prices on the used market.

George Grand

"Expert" advice from people that have absolutely no experience with the products in question is rampant here at Polk Forum, as with many others.

Shizelbs

Whats keeping you from just trying it out?

ohskigod

Shizelbs wrote:

Whats keeping you from just trying it out?

well, for one thing, I didnt get the amp yet

it's been shipped, and I should get it next week or so.

when I do, I'l play around.

the only P.I.T.A will be I have to take the hafler out off the theater, and replace it with the Carver while I experiment. Everytime I swap an amp, I have to recalibrate the theater a little. then, if I dont like the biamping, I will have to do it all over again.

either way, it shall be done.

ohskigod

got the Hafler in last week. I just set up the biamp set up yesterday.
from a first impression standpoint, WOW!!!!

I listened to all the theories about biamping, and how some dont hear much of a difference. to be honest, I was expecting a difference, just from a "more power in reserve" standpoint, thus giving me a little more clarity at higher volumes, but this was not the case.

the bottom end increased DRASTICALLY, which is saying something for those who have heard me complain about getting bass response in my basement. I actually had to reposition the AR9's to ease off the bass a little bit. yanked a little less than a foot out into the room made things just right for me.

another thing that increased was imaging. before, the didnt have the widest soundstage on the planet, but I allways appreciated there depth, now, i got both.

a musician friend of mine listened to it, and was quite amazed at the difference himself. he said...flat out... that this is the best set up combination I have had by a significant margin.

i'll report more as I get more ear time on it, wether you care or not

tonyb

Glad to hear it,and it goes without saying ....experiment.....how
else do you find your own nirvana.Your rolling thru your whole
music collection ain't ya??Looking forward to hearing more.:)

Deadof_knight

Im kinda in the same boat and the whole listen to it pretty well sums it up....

ohskigod

tonyb wrote:

.Your rolling thru your whole
music collection ain't ya??Looking forward to hearing more.:)

yep, got a lot of pleasurable work to do.

reeltrouble1

Lou,

Glad you are getting it on in that basement, I know its been a search for you. Well, I heard the AR-9 at BDT's, they were the best speaker I have heard in his living room, bar none, the depth on those babies and the heighth of the music stand out for me. Of course they did even better in the Mann cave he had them in. I got to get to Jersey and get my ears on with you fellows.

RT1

Dean guitar pla

Tough choice but as I am a Carver fan, that would be my vote. Very reliable and powerful

ohskigod

Dean guitar pla wrote:

Tough choice but as I am a Carver fan, that would be my vote. Very reliable and powerful

oh believe me, I still have mad love for the Carver. I just hapenned to have 2 Haflers. and luckily for me, they do the job so nice . I knew if I wanted to Biamp, I wanted the same aplifier on the top and the bottom. I tried the Carver with a couple other amps I had before I got the second Hafler, and did not get the results I wanted. The 2 Haflers though? just magical.

the Carver 4.0 is currently in the home theater, dolling out serious @ss kickery for movies in my living room, giving the LSi15's the power they so crave.

If I ever happen across another 4.0 (at a price that is not ridiculous, like they are now on ebay and the 'gon), I still do want to bridge a 4.0 to each Carver Platinum Amazing that is curtrently taking up storage space in my Basement. It just kills me that I cant biamp them!!!!. either way, me and the AR9's are going to be getting along just fine for the forseeable future.

Bill Ayotte

I heard a set of AR9s at George's house last weekend, and those are a sick set of speakers.

Fireman32

Lou cant wait to hear them. I'll be over early on friday.

ohskigod

bring the pawn shop cd


Bill, those AR9's at George's were the first I heard. I put them on the "speakers I must own before I die" list shortly after the demo. I also own a pair of Carver Platinums. Think George influenced my preferences much?

Bill Ayotte

I was thinking the same thing. Those are both amazing, and he has some great examples of them. I stared looking for both of those, mostly doing research right now, but for the right price i would stretch out the finances a little. Then comes the amp problem....It really is never ending.