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Matching the sensitivity of two amps for bi-amping

Hello,
I want to try bi-amping of my speakers Von Schweikert 4 Ohms, 96 dB sensitivity. I have now a preamp Conrad Johnson Premier 17 LS and a pair of Audio Note tube amplifiers. The input sensitivity of the amplifiers is 60 mV @ 0 dB. I would like to buy a solid state amplifier (or two monoblocks) to drive the low end of the speakers. I am almost sure that the input sensitivity will not exactly match those of the Audionotes. Is it difficult to adjust? I won't use external crossovers, because I don't want to touch the speakers for bypassing the filters. What should be done? Tnx in advance and have a nice audio-time.
nikmilkov

Showing 3 responses by georgehifi

georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
"Some Mcintosh amps have gain knobs, should I try this?"

Yes this is the way to get the right balance between the amps so long as the Mac is higher in sensitivity than your AN amps, and then use your CJ preamp for the master volume.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Nikmilkov

I ran 20watt single ended (SET) tubes on the mids and highs of esl's and then used a 300watt transistor with input gain pots for the bass driver.
Then for the master preamp I use a passive pre to drive both amps. (In your case you'll be using you active CJ pre which is no trouble maybe even better load wise)
This was very successful, because the transistor amp was higher in sensitivity than the tubes and therefore able to be gain matched with its own input pots to the same volume of the lower sensitivity SET tube amp, and then the passive pre became the master volume control.

Cheers George
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 

Nikmilkov hi,

All you need to do is purchase a solid state amp that has higher sensitivity than your AN amps that also has input level controls.

Set the level controls so your bass sounds balanced in your system with the AN amps, an then your CJ preamp volume will be the master volume for both amps.

Cheers George
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