2. amps-preamps
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Bi-amp with Bel Canto monos

I have never heard Class D so I bought a pair of Bel Canto Ref 1000 mono amps to use with my Eggleston Savoy speakers since I need more power than my Classe CAM 350 mono amps can deliver. It will give me a chance to see if I like class D. I talked with PJ at Bel Canto and he is recommending I bi-amp the speakers with 1000M on the bottom and 500M for mid range and upper end. The 500M seems to have a more liquid mid range and better top end than the 1000Ms. Do you think this would be a good combination?
coxhaus
8 responses Add your response
ericp
21 posts
 
sorry bout cap lock :)
ericp
21 posts
 
I AM RUNNING MY SAVOYS WITH THE 1200 WATT MC 1201 FROM TOSH...a idea :)
audio_builder
23 posts
 
You should run the same amps if you are bi-amping a commercial speaker with a passive x-over. Speakers that were designed as active can take advantage of different amplifiers and their characteristics. For example use a nice single ended amp on the mids and highs and a larger push pull or solid state amp for the midbass and bass.

Don’t be surprise what people recommend when they are trying to get your money!

You are better off trying the Ref 1000 thank 2 pair of 500M. Notice I said try and not buy.
coxhaus OP
231 posts
 
I have always heard you should run the same amps if you are bi-amping. I was surprised when they recommended 2 different amps. Maybe I should buy 2 pairs of 500M amps. I just don’t know if the 500Ms will be big enough for the Eggleston Savoy speaker bass section. It may be a safer bet.
audio_builder
23 posts
 
In theory bi-amping sounds simple. As long as you bi-amp with the same amplifier for the top and bottom you are OK. If you use two different amplifiers, you may introduce time delays and phase shifts that the original speaker designer never expected. You are better off getting one good amplifier than trying to play speaker designer with two dissimilar amplifiers. To get the most out of bi-amping you need to loose the life sucking passive x-over and go active.
dob
577 posts
 
"...There are differences between various class D amps that are at least as great as those found in other types of amplifiers "

Agree with Guido !
kijanki's avatar
kijanki
4,428 posts
 
Coxhaus - I've never bi-amped but power ratio 2:1 between woofer and midrange is too small. You could possibly go with 10:1 (1000W/100W) to save some money.
guidocorona
4,298 posts
 
Hi Coxhaus, the 1000m/500M combination makes a lot of sense. Beware that liking a particular amp of a given type, tubed, SS, or class D, does not tell you much about the general sound of a category, but only if the particular product you have selected fits your sonic preference. . . There are differences between various class D amps that are at least as great as those found in other types of amplifiers. G.
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