I had not been biamping for some time , first because I was using my M3 and didn't have a good match for it and then because I was comparing my Spendor SP1/2s to the Mini Utopias which have only one terminal. A couple of days ago I decided to biamp the Spendors with 4 of my Meridian 605s. I had forgotten how much better biamping is, things stand out without straining to hear them and you hear things that were not there before. The Spendors cross quite high also but difference biamping is considerable.
Bi-amp befuddlement
Newbie in midst of modest upgrades to old system and wondering if I am getting best benefit from bi-amping:
Having read about it, I acquired an Arcam 8 power amp to pair with my Arcam 8 Integrated.
Speakers are B&W 601 S2, about 20 years old, which sounded quite warm and nice bi-wired with Monster cables. For the bi-amping effort, I bought Anti-cables.
I followed the Arcam instructions and wired the power amp to low end, the integrated to high end. Frankly, not sure I noticed a difference - except maybe when I crank it up. The sounds seems clearer, with less distortion, or maybe that's wishful hearing.
I am questioning things in part because the other day, I shut down the power amp and the music nstantly went tinny, like some tranmission from space. Put on the power amp, and all richness floods back. Clearly, I expect a change but not such a massive one.
Is that normal? Is that all I am getting out of the intergrated? I have looked at Audiogon forums and read about vertical bi-amping - one amp per speaker. Is that a better use of two amps for somebody who is not going to mess with speaker cross-overs?
Having read about it, I acquired an Arcam 8 power amp to pair with my Arcam 8 Integrated.
Speakers are B&W 601 S2, about 20 years old, which sounded quite warm and nice bi-wired with Monster cables. For the bi-amping effort, I bought Anti-cables.
I followed the Arcam instructions and wired the power amp to low end, the integrated to high end. Frankly, not sure I noticed a difference - except maybe when I crank it up. The sounds seems clearer, with less distortion, or maybe that's wishful hearing.
I am questioning things in part because the other day, I shut down the power amp and the music nstantly went tinny, like some tranmission from space. Put on the power amp, and all richness floods back. Clearly, I expect a change but not such a massive one.
Is that normal? Is that all I am getting out of the intergrated? I have looked at Audiogon forums and read about vertical bi-amping - one amp per speaker. Is that a better use of two amps for somebody who is not going to mess with speaker cross-overs?