Sunfire forum

olilugo

Hi all, I wanted to find out if you know of any dedicated sunfire forums like this great polk forum?

In the meantime for those that own one of the sunfire amps specially the TGA line as I am not familiar with any of the older amps.

Have any of you tried to bi-wire your speakers using a sunfire amp?
The reason I am asking is that according to the manual, the right setup for bi-wire is to use two(2) regular speaker cables instead the normal 2 to 4 ended cables. before I start looking for speaker cables I want to make sure I use the right type of cables.

AndyGwis

There is a carver forum that is actually pretty decent. Doesn't have the traffic this place gets, which could be viewed as a good or bad thing.

http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/index.php

kawizx9r

Hey olilugo, this is just an "educated" guess simply because I've seen/heard it done when connected to a receiver, but I don't know if you'll really see that much of an improvement bi-wiring from the same amp. Power is being drawn from the same amp/power supply, and many people who choose to bi-wire don't hear a difference at all. Not saying you'll get the same result but it's been tried alot with amps/receivers alike.

Bernal

olilugo wrote: »

Hi all, I wanted to find out if you know of any dedicated sunfire forums like this great polk forum?

In the meantime for those that own one of the sunfire amps specially the TGA line as I am not familiar with any of the older amps.

Have any of you tried to bi-wire your speakers using a sunfire amp?
The reason I am asking is that according to the manual, the right setup for bi-wire is to use two(2) regular speaker cables instead the normal 2 to 4 ended cables. before I start looking for speaker cables I want to make sure I use the right type of cables.

Hi,
The bi-wiring make a significant improvement in the sound.
More information:
http://sunfire.com/manuals/Sunfire_TGA_7401_7201_Manual.pdf

---

01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
04) OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio / DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN SERIES (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)

jimmydep

I use a Sunfire Cinema Grand bi-amping a pair of LSI-15's. Bi-wiring with the Sunfire can give you a much different sound due to the dual outputs on the front channel. You have your choice of current or voltage source (current source supposedly mimicking the characteristics of a tube amp). You would wire the current source for the highs and the voltage to the lows. So depending upon your speakers you might get great results.

I found the Sunfire to be too laid back with the LSI's and when I bi-wired with the current source to the highs the LSI's just went completely FLAT. My current config is Bi-amping the fronts with an Emotiva, which is much better for the LSI's.

It might be a good idea to get 2 pairs of speaker cables or a 4 wire cable this way you can bi-wire or bi-amp....just to keep all your options open.


Jimmy

TNRabbit

Let us know what your current setup is & we can give better advice more tailored to your situation...

olilugo

kawizx9r wrote: »

Hey olilugo, this is just an "educated" guess simply because I've seen/heard it done when connected to a receiver, but I don't know if you'll really see that much of an improvement bi-wiring from the same amp. Power is being drawn from the same amp/power supply, and many people who choose to bi-wire don't hear a difference at all. Not saying you'll get the same result but it's been tried alot with amps/receivers alike.

I think this makes sence if I was to bi-amp which my sunfire completely supports using the surround channels.

I am trying to bi-wire.

olilugo

jimmydep wrote: »

I use a Sunfire Cinema Grand bi-amping a pair of LSI-15's. Bi-wiring with the Sunfire can give you a much different sound due to the dual outputs on the front channel. You have your choice of current or voltage source (current source supposedly mimicking the characteristics of a tube amp). You would wire the current source for the highs and the voltage to the lows. So depending upon your speakers you might get great results.

I found the Sunfire to be too laid back with the LSI's and when I bi-wired with the current source to the highs the LSI's just went completely FLAT. My current config is Bi-amping the fronts with an Emotiva, which is much better for the LSI's.

It might be a good idea to get 2 pairs of speaker cables or a 4 wire cable this way you can bi-wire or bi-amp....just to keep all your options open.


Jimmy

Jimmy I just spoke to Sunfire tech support and he said he does not see a problem using the current source and just having a speaker cable that has 2 connection at one end and 4 connections on the other end.

did you ever try setting it up like that instead of current source for the highs and voltage source for the woofers?

olilugo

TNRabbit wrote: »

Let us know what your current setup is & we can give better advice more tailored to your situation...

Hey TNRabbit, My current setup is just normal connection to my speakers.

recv -> amp -> speakers using the current source on my amp into the high connectors on the speakers and leaving the jumpers to connect the low and the high.

jimmydep

olilugo wrote: »

Jimmy I just spoke to Sunfire tech support and he said he does not see a problem using the current source and just having a speaker cable that has 2 connection at one end and 4 connections on the other end.

did you ever try setting it up like that instead of current source for the highs and voltage source for the woofers?

I have connected the speakers to the current source output keeping the speaker terminal jumpers in place.....for the LSI-15's I didn't like the sound at all, it was way too flat.

That's when I tried bi-wiring and bi-amping to see if that would make a difference, I have to say bi-amping using the voltage source and a second channel sounded the best, but still to laid back for me.

What speakers are you using?


Jimmy

olilugo

right now I am using rti6 for the fronts, but I am looking at upgrading to B&W 804s and I wanted to try bi-wire on them. In my current setup I have them setup in its basic config. no bi-amp nor bi-wire.

Conradicles

AndyGwis wrote: »

There is a carver forum that is actually pretty decent. Doesn't have the traffic this place gets, which could be viewed as a good or bad thing.

http://www.carveraudio.com/phpBB3/index.php

Just joined the Carver/Sunfire forum today. I have a few questions myself about my new Sunfire Pre-amp.

TNRabbit

olilugo wrote: »

Hey TNRabbit, My current setup is just normal connection to my speakers.

recv -> amp -> speakers using the current source on my amp into the high connectors on the speakers and leaving the jumpers to connect the low and the high.

Yeah I was talking specifically which receiver & what speakers... :rolleyes:

olilugo

Mains: Polk RTi6
Center: Polk CSi5
Surround: Polk FXi3
Sub: Velodyne DLS-3750R
Receiver: Pioneer SC-07
Amplifier: Sunfire TGA5200
TV: Sony KDS60A2020
DBP: Sony DBP-S350

danz1906

Sunfire Rocks:D

Bernal

Hi,
My setup is 4308 Ci + Sunfire (:D4 ohms)+ LSI (:D4 ohms).
4308 Ci use as pre amp.
Use Sunfire bi-wiring to all speakers LSi.
Excellent result. Sound and very good image defined musical.
Bi-amplification is not necessary in my case.
I recommend you do the test using a 4-wire cable "free oxygen";).

---

01) DENON AVR-4308CI: Advanced 7.1 CH/5.1+2 CH/ 3.1+2+2 CH A/V Home Theater /MultiMedia Multi-Source/Zone Receiver with Networking and WiFi/170 watts x 7 channels
02) SUNFIRE Grand Signature - Bob Carver's
03) OPPO DV-980H 1080p Up-Converting Universal DVD Player with HDMI and 7.1CH Audio
04) OPPO BDP-83 Blu-ray Disc Player w/SACD & DVD-Audio / DENON DVD-2500BTCI: Blu-ray Disc™ DVD/CD Digital Player/Transport
05) HITACHI P55T501. 55" HD1080 Plasma HDTV
06) POLKAUDIO LSiC (Center speaker)
07) POLKAUDIO LSi15 LEFT (Front speaker)
08) POLKAUDIO LSi15 RIGHT (Front speaker)
09) POLKAUDIO LSif/x LEFT (Surround speaker)
10) POLKAUDIO LSif/x RIGHT (Surround speaker)
11) VELODYNE OPTIMUN SERIES (High Output Digital EQ SubWoofer 2400W/1200WRMS)

Sherardp

Pio Elite SC07- pre
Sunfire TGA 5200- centers and surrounds
D-Sonic 1000S on fronts.

See sig line and showcase for the rest

olilugo

Hi all,
After talking with sunfire Tech support I feel a bit more confused. I am including a pdf to show the back of my sunfire amp and a second page showing how sunfire recomends wirering if I wanted to bi-wire my front speakers.
As you see from the back of my amp, there are two speaker outs for the front speakers, they are labled current source and voltage source.
The second page says that I should use 2 sets of stereo speaker cable and use the current source for the tweeter and the voltage source for the woofer.

He also mentioned that he does not see a problem using a bi-wire speaker cable and just connect the spekaer using either the current or the voltage source. Then he went on to say as long as the speakers are 8Ohm's I should be ok because if you use the in a bi-wire configuration I am basically reducing the impedance to 4 ohm's. which It got me thinking is this true?
What really is happening when a speaker is setup in bi-wire configuration are the speakers inside the speaker cabinet converted into serial, parallel or non of the above?
I am also including a couple of pictures of what I consider basic stereo speaker cable and what I think of bi-wire speaker cable. I am using this pictures just as an example, I don't own these speaker cables.

So why make such a big deal:
1. I will have to buy these new speaker cables and I want to make sure I buy what I need and no make a costly mistake
2. Continue to learn more about this subject
3. I don't want to damage the speakers nor my amp
4. before I actually spend the money I want to make sure that it will make a difference. - I know I will have to try this one on my own, but if someone already went through this experience It never to learnd from those experiences.

Bernal

olilugo wrote: »

Hi all,
After talking with sunfire Tech support I feel a bit more confused. I am including a pdf to show the back of my sunfire amp and a second page showing how sunfire recomends wirering if I wanted to bi-wire my front speakers.
As you see from the back of my amp, there are two speaker outs for the front speakers, they are labled current source and voltage source.
The second page says that I should use 2 sets of stereo speaker cable and use the current source for the tweeter and the voltage source for the woofer.

He also mentioned that he does not see a problem using a bi-wire speaker cable and just connect the spekaer using either the current or the voltage source. Then he went on to say as long as the speakers are 8Ohm's I should be ok because if you use the in a bi-wire configuration I am basically reducing the impedance to 4 ohm's. which It got me thinking is this true?
What really is happening when a speaker is setup in bi-wire configuration are the speakers inside the speaker cabinet converted into serial, parallel or non of the above?
I am also including a couple of pictures of what I consider basic stereo speaker cable and what I think of bi-wire speaker cable. I am using this pictures just as an example, I don't own these speaker cables.

So why make such a big deal:
1. I will have to buy these new speaker cables and I want to make sure I buy what I need and no make a costly mistake
2. Continue to learn more about this subject
3. I don't want to damage the speakers nor my amp
4. before I actually spend the money I want to make sure that it will make a difference. - I know I will have to try this one on my own, but if someone already went through this experience It never to learnd from those experiences.

This link can help:

http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/bi-wiring-from-amplifier-to-loudspeaker

Note:
Sufire has the characteristic of current output 2 different (see manual). You can exploit this advantage by using oxygen-free cables and the sound will be very satisfactory.

Bernal

:):):):):)