active crossover freqncy for Totem Mani2

Thanks Timlub.

Totem doesn't recommend the use of external crossovers for optimal performance.

Totem also mentioned if I wish to bi-amp they recommend doing it passively and letting the crossover use the natural filters.

I don't really know what that means and also my amplifier does not support bi-amp of bridge mode. What I should do?

Hi Bdgregory,

You are right on, the purpose is indeed to bi-amp with two Accuphase P-102 stereo amps. The reason is that the P-102 do not support bridge mono mode.

I understand Totem is suggesting to use passive horizontal bi-amping but I am confused as how to achieve it (by using a Y adapter?) and how would that imply on the load average between the two P-102s.

I guess my question is, #1 if there is a way to load balance two stereo amplifiers evenly and to achieve maximum return on bi-amping and #2 would an active crossover benefit and how do I determine the crossover frequencies to get for the Mani-2.

If you have experience on actively bi-amping the Mani-2 with frequencies dividers like the Accuphase F-25, please educate me :)

Thanks.

Thanks for the information Timlub. Based on the reply I received from Totem it looks like it's impractical to go active.

Perhaps this is the reason why Totem recommends to bi-amp passively so the filtering is done internally with the mani-2 crossover.

Cheers,

I would describe myself as being at the bottom of the learning curve on bi-amping. Currently I have one P-102 and want to learn from other people's experience on the benefit of vertical vs. horizontal and active and passive.

For vertical bi-amp, would one really benefit from 100% of each amplifier? and what effect would it have in terms of the load current wise? Thanks.

Right, I forgot to mention that I am currently running bi-wires. Although I see it's one speaker cable per channel but I think inside it has multiple cores (?) and on the speakers side I had the jumpers removed.

I'd say there is nothing really wrong with my current setup. The class A amp for my room size and the music I listen to is perfect.

However, I do see the meter going to about 80% from time to time and am wondering if it'd help by going the bi-amp route. I never thought of upgrading because I am attached to the class A sound and getting Accuphase mono is unfortunately something that I could not afford :)

Thanks,

More to add - my thought process is that I am concerned that the class A sound in my setup is not going to lass very long... or not?

Very interesting idea. What's the benefit of doing it this ways as opposed to the regular passive horizontal biamping? Also, there's no crossover in the tweeter section? Thanks.

Thanks guys. I am extremely happy with my setup right now and will keep it is and continue to love it. Regarding stands I am using four Target T stands filled with lead shots, two speaker spikes each because the speaker is a bit longer in length. I am looking at the Sound Anchor stands, they look very nice.

Bdgregory, a thread that I could gain knowledge from is exactly what I am looking for. Is this the right one you refereed to?

>> http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1185660642