Nookb looking for help

Shicks18

Ive been obsessed with audio for about 6 months now, and while I have learned a lot and have a clue about some stuff .. I am still clueless on the following:

1) What is a Pre-Amp
2) What is a Pre/Pro
3) What is Bi-Amping

I have somewhat of an idea but rather have these questions laid to rest. Thanks!

zingo

Shicks18 wrote: »

1) What is a Pre-Amp

A preamplifier is the control unit for your audio equipment and outputs the required signal to the amplifier. It will have the volume control on it, as well as input selectors, and tone controls or menu controls. For reference, a receiver is a preamp and amplifier in one unit.

CD player --> preamp --> amplifier --> speakers

Shicks18 wrote: »

2) What is a Pre/Pro

A prepro is the same as a preamp, except it also has a surround-sound processor in it for home theater.

Shicks18 wrote: »

3) What is Bi-Amping

Biamping is powering a pair of speakers with two amplifiers; one of the highs and one for the lows. (this requires two sets of binding posts)

Any other questions?

Shicks18

yea what are binding posts =P

i had a good idea about all of that stuff.

I currently have a Yamaha RX-V663 and Behringer A500,
so if i owned a pair of high powered Polks (which i plan on getting shortly) should I bi-amp those or just use the amp alone to take pressure off the Yamaha?

Or if you have a better overall idea that would be the best!

Thanks so much

zingo

Here are a pair of binding posts, similar to the ones Polk uses:


They are also called 5-way binding posts as you can use bare-wire, single banana plugs, duel banana plugs, pins, or spades.

I would try biamping with them and see how they sound; then try each power source seperately. Whatever sounds best out of the three combinations you should use.

joew243

I use the Yamaha RX-V2700 and tried bi-amping (140x2) on my Rti12s and it is still not enough. I changed to a Carver 1.5t, bi-wired the speakers, and they really come to life. They are pretty inefficient at 89db so you will need allot to get what you are looking for.

Shicks18

should the receiver or amp power the low end?
also whats bi-wiring?

zingo

I would put the amp on the lower end since it has more power.

Bi-wiring is when you use a piece of speaker wire that has two terminations on the amp end and four terminations on the speaker end. It's can be a better alterative to using the brass jumpers on a bi-ampable pair of speakers.

Shicks18

gotcha. probably my last question of the day -- would having all polk speakers, but 2 different series still be a timbre match or pretty darn close?

zingo --- you are of great help!! thank you very much.

reeltrouble1

no different series are not voice matched, its best to try and stay in the same series but its not the end of the world if you cannot, at least try to keep the front speaks all the same series if you can.

RT1