2. amps-preamps
  3. 193485-41563

Mixing XLR and RCA outputs when biamping?

I’m about to introduce two new (to me) amps into my 2-channel system, and wondered about how to hook them up.

 

The amps are refurbished Adcom GFA555s1, and I plan to bi-wire them vertically.  My preamp (NAD C658) has both XLR and RCA outputs,  and it appears they output simultaneously.    However, the amps are RCA input only (no XLR input).          It would seem I have a couple of options:

 

1. use the RCA output of the preamp, and split each signal to feed both channels of each amp.    
 

2. Use both XLR and RCA outputs, with the two left channels going to the left speaker amp.

 

Would the voltage/sound level be the same for situation 2?    I was thinking running the left XLR into the low freq on the left speaker, and the right XLR not the low freq of the right speaker.

 

this is probably a dumb idea and I should split the RCA signal.

 

 

 

 

chessie

Showing 1 response by barts

barts's avatar
barts
757 posts
 

Using a Y will necessitate that you bi-wire (which for most systems is a waste of time and money in my opinion).

Considering that the amps are just refurbished I personally think your best bet is to bridge both of them.  Gives you plenty of headroom and your using the speakers as intended.  To any naysayers...if the amps are virtually as new or better and were designed to be bridged in the first place just go for it.

I ran ARC bridged amps for many years with no issues. 

Regards,

barts

  

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