Poll: bi-amp or bridge

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Sami
Sami Posts: 4,634
edited February 2008 in Electronics
I just picked up a Sherbourn 5/1500 5 channel amp and as a bonus channels 1,2 & 4,5 can be bridged. I have my current B&K AV5000 running to LSi15's biamped and the extra channel is used for LSi7 centre. HK AVR7200 is running the LSI7's that are surrounds.

Should I keep the current config and run it the same, or should I bridge the channels and run them to the 15's? Or should I just run all channels, including the surrounds, from the Sherbourn? I know the obvious answer is try it out and listen but I'd like to hear your opinions, pros and cons? Bridged mode to 4ohm speakers bad or not? I don't think biamping produces that much benefits since the power demand for highs isn't that great, that's why I'm tempted to biamp more. Then again, 200wpc should be more than enough w/o either.

p.s. I'm sure Cathy is now happy since I went from measly 100WPC to the necessary 200WPC :p
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  • Systems
    Systems Posts: 14,872
    edited February 2008
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    Sami wrote: »
    Bridged mode to 4ohm speakers bad or not?
    yeah some amps don't like to see 4 ohm's when bridged.
    I don't think biamping produces that much benefits
    Agreed bi amping with the internal passive crossover may not yield any benifit other than a few extra DB of headroom .(Bi amping using active crossovers is a big leap in SQ IMO).But seeing as you have the channels you might as well use them.I'd opt for the biamp option because of the 4 ohm load.:)
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  • Deadof_knight
    Deadof_knight Posts: 980
    edited February 2008
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    They ability to change the input is by far better in my opinion then raw power ! Im running 2 tfm-35 so thats still 500 watts a channel with headroom rather than 700 watts a side.
    :cool: " He who dies with the most equipment wins Right ? "

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  • ShinAce
    ShinAce Posts: 1,194
    edited February 2008
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    GV#27 wrote: »
    (Bi amping using active crossovers is a big leap in SQ IMO)

    My scentiments exactly.

    This thread can now be closed.
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited February 2008
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    Bi-amping my SRS's made a very noticeable difference, only using the internal crossover, per Polk recommendations.

    This thread is WIDE open. :)

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited February 2008
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    In car audio, bi-amping is the only way to go. With all the processors and EQ's we have, its nice being able to tune each driver independantly. For instance, I have a 1/3 EQ for each driver in my system as well as crossovers and time alignment. Its nice.

    However, since HA doesnt really have processors or a whole lot of EQ's and such, there isnt much of a gain in bi-amping. For HA I would say bridge, if your amp can handle the load. This will give you much more power overall which usually always means better SQ.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2008
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    LSI's are 4 ohms. That means bridged the amp would see a 2ohm load. Not good. If they were 8 ohms I'd say try it, and see if you like it.
    Ben
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited February 2008
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    Oops. My bad. I assumed HA amps were stable down to 4 ohms. Most car amps are but then thats because car speakers are 4 ohms where home speakers are 8 so you dont really need a 2 ohm mono stable amp.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,275
    edited February 2008
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    Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp, Bi-amp.

    Get my drift? ;)
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2008
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    You left an option out. Use the HK on the highs, and use the amp 5 channels. IE the lows on the left, and right.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited February 2008
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    ben62670 wrote: »
    You left an option out. Use the HK on the highs, and use the amp 5 channels. IE the lows on the left, and right.

    I'm not a big fan of mixing different amps on same channel. You'd have to calibrate the gain, worry about sonic differences etc. The ~100WPC B&K did an excellent job with the 15's, I don't think I would go wrong by ditching the HK amp section completely either and just use the 5 channels for LF, RF, C, SL & SR.

    I already have the wires for bi-amping in place though, so I think I'll stick with how it is right now. Bi-amped it is.

    Your suggestion leads to another question...how many bi-amp with different amps and do not calibrate gain on them? I would think it's not 100% equal even with the same amp but should be close enough not to worry about it.
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  • Sami
    Sami Posts: 4,634
    edited February 2008
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    MacLeod wrote: »
    Oops. My bad. I assumed HA amps were stable down to 4 ohms.

    Most are. Some are stable to 2 ohm loads as well. I would think the Sherbourn is good to go for 2ohm loads but I'd rather not take the risk as I doubt I have that much to gain. If my speakers weren't 4ohm, I think bridging would be the way I would go.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,275
    edited February 2008
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    Sami wrote: »
    Your suggestion leads to another question...how many bi-amp with different amps and do not calibrate gain on them? I would think it's not 100% equal even with the same amp but should be close enough not to worry about it.
    Sami, I have been using a mixture of two separate amps bi-amping with a multitude of combinations with no audible deficiencies. However, YMMV.
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • I-SIG
    I-SIG Posts: 2,243
    edited February 2008
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    Sami wrote: »
    Your suggestion leads to another question...how many bi-amp with different amps and do not calibrate gain on them? I would think it's not 100% equal even with the same amp but should be close enough not to worry about it.

    I bi-amp with different amps. Both are Parasounds. On the mids I have the HCA-2200 and the highs get a HCA-1000. I think Polk recommends at least 1/3 of the power minimum on the highs to get proper sonic matching. I figured that being the same manufacture would give me a good chance of the impedances matching closely and since I would be running almost 1/2 power on the highs things would turn out well.

    Boy did they. Bi-amping was easily a step up the food chain. Immediate improvement in the high end details and air. The midrange and bass was faster and clearer. Not a downside other than extra IC's and SC's.

    Wes
    Link: http://polkarmy.com/forums

    Sony 75" Bravia 4K | Polk Audio SDA-SRS's (w/RDO's & Vampire Posts) + SVS PC+ 25-31 | AudioQuest Granite (mids) + BWA Silver (highs) | Cary Audio CAD-200 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Rotel Michi P5 | Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR's | Cambridge Audio azur 840C--Wadia 170i + iPod jammed w/ lossless audio--Oppo 970 | Pure|AV PF31d
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2008
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    I-SIG wrote: »
    I bi-amp with different amps. Both are Parasounds. On the mids I have the HCA-2200 and the highs get a HCA-1000. I think Polk recommends at least 1/3 of the power minimum on the highs to get proper sonic matching. I figured that being the same manufacture would give me a good chance of the impedances matching closely and since I would be running almost 1/2 power on the highs things would turn out well.

    Boy did they. Bi-amping was easily a step up the food chain. Immediate improvement in the high end details and air. The midrange and bass was faster and clearer. Not a downside other than extra IC's and SC's.

    Wes

    Bingo. The HK's are known for their smoothness, and you have a nice punchy amp for the bass. Peas, and carrots. Yes those are Polk's recommendations. Gain could be an issue, but most likely you will have pleasing results.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • jayman_1975
    jayman_1975 Posts: 672
    edited February 2008
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    I tried bi-amping the highs off my Arcam and the lows off my Anthem. Didn't sound good cause the Arcam has a 2db higher gain than the Anthem. I was thinking about trying to bi-amp strickly with the Anthem and then letting the Arcam power the surrounds...this might sound better cause both highs and lows will be powered with the same gain.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited February 2008
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    jayman_1975 wrote: »
    I tried bi-amping the highs off my Arcam and the lows off my Anthem. Didn't sound good cause the Arcam has a 2db higher gain than the Anthem. I was thinking about trying to bi-amp strickly with the Anthem and then letting the Arcam power the surrounds...this might sound better cause both highs and lows will be powered with the same gain.

    You never know till ya know, you know.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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