What you are describing is vertical bi-amping. Theoreticaly you should get less interchannel cross talk and ergo better channel seperation. In addition you may somewhat limit each channel of each amp from covering as much of the frequency demands and ergo keeping each amp more stable. If there are sample to sample differences between amps they may be more readibly exposed. Doing this long term may put different demands on opposing channels of the same amp and the individual channels within the same amp may wear differently. When bi-amping in this manner you may have greater headroom at either end of the frequency extremes at the expense of straining the areas you may be more sensitive too. Your speakers will have a lot to do with many of these issues. Your amps may have a lot to do with these issues. This approach may allow for shorter cabling. The other approach would be horizontal bi-amping. Theoreticaly the amp(s) should have even more limited frequency demands and ergo be even more stable. Sample to sample differences between the amps may be less obvious. In this case the amps may wear differently from each other but are less likely to wear differently within from channel to channel. When bi-amping in this manner you may have more headroom in areas that you may be more sensitve too at the expense of less over all headroom. This approach may require longer cabling.Your speakers may have a lot to do with many of these issues. Your amps may have a lot to do with these issues. Mixing amps or tubes may be an advantage to compensate for different demands and allow for greater headroom in those areas that you may be more sensitive to at the expense of overall greater headroom. Mixing amps or tubes may cause muddling or discontinuance in the overall sound. Your speakers may have a lot to do with this. All in all there are pluses and minuses to all these approaches. It sure is worth a try. Cables may play a part in all this as well.
Bi-amping with "split mono-blocks"?
Has anyone ever used a pair of stereo tube amps to bi-amp speakers in a configuration such that each speaker has it's own stereo amp driving both the upper and lower blocks?
I think this would have the effect of separating the channels effectively as if using monoblocks and also allowing a bi-amp configuration to the speaker.
FWIW, I'm running a Premier 11A into VR4JRs and I've have a desire to try bi-amping but I also want to try monoblocks. I thought that if I bought another Premier 11A instead of trading up to the Premier 12, I could have benefits of both biamping and monoblocks. The combined power of two Premier 11As would be about the same as a Premier 12. Also I'm thinking I could use KT90s on the bass path to get the extra I want there and use 6550s on the uppers to retain the sparkle that the KT90s seem to lack.
Any thoughts?
I think this would have the effect of separating the channels effectively as if using monoblocks and also allowing a bi-amp configuration to the speaker.
FWIW, I'm running a Premier 11A into VR4JRs and I've have a desire to try bi-amping but I also want to try monoblocks. I thought that if I bought another Premier 11A instead of trading up to the Premier 12, I could have benefits of both biamping and monoblocks. The combined power of two Premier 11As would be about the same as a Premier 12. Also I'm thinking I could use KT90s on the bass path to get the extra I want there and use 6550s on the uppers to retain the sparkle that the KT90s seem to lack.
Any thoughts?