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 5 responses by chessie

chessie OP
25 posts
 

Thanks Eric,

I had almost gotten to that point myself.   These amps are also bridgeable, but most people don't recommend it.   My speakers are 8ohm nominal, B&W 801S2.

 

 

chessie OP
25 posts
 

There is/was an "alignment filter" but I don't have one.   I have looked for one but they are apparently made of solid gold.    How does one introduce an active crossover?   I assume there is some hardware to add somewhere.

chessie OP
25 posts
 

@avanti1960

 

Thanks, yes... sounds like more than I am looking to do at this time.

The amps have been serviced/refurbished by an adcom specialist using new Hoppe boards.

chessie OP
25 posts
 

Interesting, trying to understand how this would work.  

Is this what you mean?
--------------------------------------

1. Don't do anything to the existing (built-in) crossover.

2. send a regular signal to the "high" speaker input.
         (Source->Preamp->Amp->HSI)

3. use the miniDSP to process the signal that goes to the "low" speaker input.
        (Source->Preamp->miniDSP->Amp->LSI)

 

Thanks,

Ted

chessie OP
25 posts
 

Thanks Barts.    Not sure why Y splitter necessitates bi-wire?   Can you explain?

Bi-wire to me is taking one output channel off of the amp and splitting it into two wires for the speaker inputs.   I agree, this doesn't make much sense as to why it would be beneficial.

What we are talking about is Y-splitting the output from the pre-amp so it can feed both channels of the amp with the same signal.   At that point you have of the two channels to feed each speaker (vertical bi-amping, not bi-wiring).    

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