Monoblocks vs Vertical bi-amping vs Horizontal bia

Abex, Two questions: (1)Does having an outboard active crossover mean circumventing the one internal to your speaker and if so how is that accomplished? and (2)Isn't vertical biamping just the same as monoblocks - one amp per channel?!? Please clarify the differences as I seem to think that we're being pulled into thinking that monoblocks are the only way to go and I'm suspicious of manufacturer's hidden agendas . . .

Kevin

OK... Here's how I see it:

Vertical bi-amping would involve 2 stereo amps, not necessarily "stacked", but the left channel of amp 1 would drive the tweeters of speaker 1, and the right channel of amp 1 would drive the tweeters of speaker 2. Horizontal bi-amping would have the left channel of amp 1 driving the tweeter of speaker 1, and the right channel driving the woofer of the same.

I've always biamped horizontal, just in case of anomolies or minor differences in the amplifiers or power supplies/ transformers themselves. This would seem to have less impact on the width and focus of the soundstage if one of the amplifiers wasn't quite "on step" with the other. Of course this means that the amplifier driving your woofers is getting a world-class workout, while the high frequency amp is barely warming up.

While we're on the topic...
I'm currently using a pair of Anthem MCA2's to biamplify my NHT 3.3's (horizontal). I'm considering purchasing an Anthem AMP2se to amplify my mid/tweeters, and would appreciate advice and/or suggestions before I embark on this experiment. If things don't balance out well, I'll most likely purchase a SECOND AMP2se to drive the woofers as well.

Monoblocks x 4 would be the way to go, if cash were no object.

My 2 cents.
David.

Hifiho, there is a little confusion here. Vertical Bi-amping is:
The left amp drives the left speaker, period. Its output stages are split between the speakers high freq. input and the low freq. input.

Horizontal biamping is:
one amps output stages are driving the low freq. on both speakers, the other amp is driving the high freq. on both speakers.

And the active and passive stuff gets way detailed.

chucker

Thank You Chucker for clearing that up. Go vertical and use identical amps

I have Snell Type Aii's and I have used both vertical and horizontal bi-amp through the years. I prefer and have used for many years a horizontal set-up with stereo SS on the low freq and a stereo tube on the high freq. I enjoy the snap and drive of the SS on the bass and the tube sound for the highs. I use an external cross-over for the low end. I have been thinking about a mono SS or monoblocks SS on the low freq.