Biamping Question


I have a solid state amp rated at 225 watts per channel. I'm told it actually tests a bit higher than that, perhaps closer to 300 watts. I just acquired a 100 watt tube amp. I had intended on running these separately with various components I have, but I'm wondering if it is worth trying to biamp with the solid state amp at the bottom and the tube amp at the top.

Can anyone offer advice or suggestions. The amps are a TRL D-225 solid state and a Music Reference RM-9 tube. Thanks
clio09

Showing 2 responses by jsadurni

Try passive biamping!

If your amps have input volume control, thats it...
If not you can get a passive volume attenuator(Axiom, Creek, Placette) and connect it to the bass amp in order to match gain.
I have used (ahh tabu!) an Equalizer with my VOTs for bass in order to increase gain on the Bass amp with great results!! (I even added a little lower octave bass BTW)

Just connect them to your speakers original Xover.
The main point of biamping is to give less work to the amps so they can respond better, dont try to redesign your speakers....

I Recommend biamping mainly for complicated music, I have found that its very hard to get a full symphonic Orchestra with just one amp.... I dont know if anyody esle feel the same way?

What speakers do you have?
Hello Clio09,

I guess the simplest thing (if you havent tried it yet) would be to put the tube amp on the medium gain setting which is the same gain as your SS amp and just connect them to your preamp output with a Y connector, speaker cable of the tubes to the highs and SS to the lows...
How does it sound?

If they dont match...too many highs for instance try lowering the input sensitivity on the tube amp again to 0.4V setting....and viceversa.
If you need some fine tunning then use the attenuators, hereĀ“s a couple of links that can help with the instalation of these.

http://www.nutshellhifi.com/dact-apps.html
http://www.10audio.com/passive_pre.htm

Once you have a good setting with the attenuators you can put good quality resitors of the same value you settled on and just enjoy..... Audiophile accepted solution if you use Caddock or Vishay!

I am worried about biamping though since the Xover point of your speakers is pretty high, 3 Khz its like your speakers have 2 tweeters (they should be very resolving on mids), usually it is best to biamp at lower frequencies, say 100hz to 800hz, but do give it a try!!!

If you get away with it your system will have beautifull ease and power...

Cheers