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RE: Please explain bi-amp crossover to me

Posted by BigguyinATL on February 23, 2017 at 13:41:21:
The article discribes the benefits of biamping and compares with bi wiring.

Quick Summary
Bi-wire one amplifier channel driving a loudspeaker with High Pass and Low Pass passive crossover separated at the loudspeaker terminal.
Little or no benefit based on the wire gauge used - unless you are susceptible to perceptual bias (we all are).

Biamplified with Passive crossovers in loudspeaker. Two identical amplifiers (or two different amplifiers adjusted to similar gain) driving separate HP and LP sections. The measured output of the loudspeakers may differ a little based on the charateristics of the amplifier (mostly output impedance as a function of frequency) No real benefit of Dynamics or distortion as a Electronic Crossover biamp - Next and best Choice.

Line Level crossover biamplified system Separated the low pass and High pass signals before they enter the amplifier. This crossoverr replaces the passive crossover functionality in the loudspeaker - though protective passive components (capacitors and varistors) might (and should) be employed in the loudspeaker. Sometimes the amplifiers and crossovers are built into the loudspeaker (low cost PA speakers and low to high cost Monitor speakers), other configuration use crossover as part of the input circuitry of the amplifier (Common in PA systems), or a completely separate crossover (Analog, DSP or Passive) separating the HP and LP signals before they enter the amplifiers driving its perspective system. The amplifiers for this type do not have to be matched - and infact be optimized for its roll in driving the load (woofer, midrange or tweeter.
An active subwoofer is the most common of "biamp" system where the low frequencies are directed to the sub's amplifier.

See the article below for all the advantages of Biamping.

The main reason for not biamping is marketing, complexity and perhaps overall price.

A small monitor like a JBL LSR305 is a $300/pair biamplified system with Two 56 Watt Class D amplifiers driving a Waveguide tweeter and an 8" woofer. Because the internal passive crossover splits and EQ's the system and also protects the drivers, the output and response is remarkable for the price. (though obviously cost limits the overall cabinet as driver quality) With the Crossover at a high 1800 Hz the LP amp is still carrying most 70% the voltage swing on typical music signals, but that still makes that 43 watt amp perform like one with twice that much power. And the active crossover can allow the drivers to be phase aligned and you don't have inductors adding their voltage drop and distortion.
http://noaudiophile.com/JBL_LSR305/