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A bi-amping question

Right now I am using a Bryston 4B-ST for left/right channels in home theater. For center channel I am using an unmentionable monoblock. What I want to do is take my Acurus A125x5 amp that I have just lying around and bi-amp the center channel, using 2 of the 125wpc amps. Will this create the appropriate sound pressure level to match my Bryston?--or am I thinking about this the wrong way. Yes, eventually I will upgrade to all Bryston amps, but for now, I NEED to get the center channel level up. I do not like the result by boosting the level using the processor. The center channel is taking about 70% of the sound for movies and boosting it is just making it worse. For reference, I'm using B&W N804s for left/right, HTM-1 for center. These speakers matched for size, efficiency, frequency response and driver compliment. The processor (Proceed AVP) has only one center channel output, so I will have to find an IC splitter. Thanks.
argent
7 responses Add your response
jadestick
14 posts
 
Why don't you just try it and see for yourself, you already have the amp sitting around!
argent OP
245 posts
 
Don't have the signal splitter or the extra speaker cable yet. Am in the process of buying interim parts now, but wanted to get the input from those who know before I spend some bank on some quality cable and splitter ;-) Also, what I really wanted to know was if two 125watt amps can equal one 250 watt amp.
dbw1
173 posts
 
My guess is it'll be close enough. Ratings aren't exact. Brystons are supposed to test higher than they're rating, particularly the 4b. I used to use a pair of 3b's for my fronts (as monoblocks), which allegedly is supposed to produce the same power rating as one 4b (which I'm using now). However, the 3b's clipped at levels the 4b doesn't. That said, I bet by bridging 2 125 watt channels, you'll get close enough that boosting or subtracting via processor will be minor (and hopefully therefore not annoying). BTW, the 5-channel can't be made to bridge 2 channels without an interconnect splitter? I would have thought you could just tell it (via some switch or other) that you wanted a channel bridged into another one, the way you can do with most 2-channel amps. More fool me, I guess.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Dbwl- I don't think Argent is talking about bridging. If so, I think it still depends on the circuit design. Not all amps double up when bridged. But anyways, the ? is about bi-amping. With respect to bi-amping, I have no idea what that would mean in terms of power, I think what it would do is increase the dynamic power (headroom) available, rather than the continuous (RMS) power, but I am really just a rank amateur as far as circuitry is concerned. BTW, many (most) amps cannot be bridged, at least as they come from the factory.
fineberg
151 posts
 
Passive bi-amping as you describe will NOT double your power by any means, it will increase efficiency by simplifying the loads and should gain you about 3dB of headroom. It improves the sound more than the volume.
papalion
2 posts
 
Fineberg:

From what i understand, the DigiFlex designation is not a Canare term but rather a name given to a Canare cable assembly by a third party cable maker.

I have been looking for this specific cable but can not find it because of the nomenclature.

Do you know, specifically, which Canare cable (i.e. LV-61S, LV-77S, L-4CFB, etc.) is used in this assembly?

Also, can you tell me where i can get it?
htong
4 posts
 
1. Acurus 125x5 is not bridgable - Do not do this
2. Bi-amp the Acurus will not double your power but will improve sound quality
3. Therefore, Bi-amp will not satisfy what you are looking for (to gain power)
4. Acurus 125x5 sound quality is not up to the level of Bryston 4B-st
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