To start out, I would like to say that I have always used one amp to drive 2 or 4 speakers. That is what I’m use to and that is my comfort zone. Now I would like to expand that comfort zone and learn how to bi-amp. However, I am learning that bi-amping is not as simple as connecting an external crossover with two amps—it’s more complex than that. That is why I am here; to find out as much as I can.
With that said, here is what I do know about bi-amping:
•Using two amps with no external crossover is not a ‘true’ bi-amp
•A ‘true’ bi-amp uses an external crossover and two amps
•There are two types of bi-amping: vertical or horizontal.
•In a ‘true’ bi-amp, the internal crossover in the speakers needs to be bypassed
The questions that I would like to have answered are separated by components (speaker, amp, and crossover).
Speaker questions:
•When bi-amping does it matter if the speaker is a 2-way or a 3-way? Is one style preferred more than the other?
Which method (horizontal or vertical) should be used when bi-amping 2 speakers? 4 speakers?
•How can you tell if a speaker has an internal crossover or not without opening it? How do you bypass the internal crossover?
•From what I have learned, bypassing the internal crossover (when using an external crossover) voids the speaker’s warranty—so why bypass? What happens if you don’t bypass the internal crossover when using an external one?
Amp question:
•When bi-amping; are there specific characteristics in an amp that you look for? Or do you choose an amp that matches the speaker’s ratings?
Crossover questions:
•When bi-amping; are there specific characteristics in a crossover that you look for? What are they?
•When calibrating the crossover, where do you go to find the correct frequencies & slopes? What is a slope?
Last question: How does bi-amping increase the loudness (I know the SPL of the speaker can’t be changed) of the speakers? Couldn’t I do that with a more powerful single amp than buying an extra amp and crossover?
With that said, here is what I do know about bi-amping:
•Using two amps with no external crossover is not a ‘true’ bi-amp
•A ‘true’ bi-amp uses an external crossover and two amps
•There are two types of bi-amping: vertical or horizontal.
•In a ‘true’ bi-amp, the internal crossover in the speakers needs to be bypassed
The questions that I would like to have answered are separated by components (speaker, amp, and crossover).
Speaker questions:
•When bi-amping does it matter if the speaker is a 2-way or a 3-way? Is one style preferred more than the other?
Which method (horizontal or vertical) should be used when bi-amping 2 speakers? 4 speakers?
•How can you tell if a speaker has an internal crossover or not without opening it? How do you bypass the internal crossover?
•From what I have learned, bypassing the internal crossover (when using an external crossover) voids the speaker’s warranty—so why bypass? What happens if you don’t bypass the internal crossover when using an external one?
Amp question:
•When bi-amping; are there specific characteristics in an amp that you look for? Or do you choose an amp that matches the speaker’s ratings?
Crossover questions:
•When bi-amping; are there specific characteristics in a crossover that you look for? What are they?
•When calibrating the crossover, where do you go to find the correct frequencies & slopes? What is a slope?
Last question: How does bi-amping increase the loudness (I know the SPL of the speaker can’t be changed) of the speakers? Couldn’t I do that with a more powerful single amp than buying an extra amp and crossover?