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In Reply to: Re: How to bi-amp a SET ? posted by Aleks on April 16, 2007 at 16:24:09:
The power you need will be determained by how hard the speaker is to drive. What is the recomended range for power by the manufacture? If they say 75 to 200 watts then 50 to 75 would work. How the set runs the mid to high will depend on the db of the speakers.
I currently run AR1's, 95dbs, which is bi-amp. A 2A3 set on top and 500 watt ss amp driving the 15" woofers. I can drive the speakers to 95db with organ music, above that I would need a 300b or 845 set to get above 100db.
Follow Ups:
My speakers are 92dB horn hybrids, and I currently drive them with a 15 wpc SET amp to a good effect. The amp (EAR 869) has pre-outs and I am thinking of adding a push-pull or a SS for woofers - just to add some control and extention. It is a genuine 92dB design - and specs say 10 Watt is enough ( I drove the speakers with a 10 Watts Audio Note - no problems) but still these two woofers are known to benefit from a more powerful amp preferably a bit lean, agile with firm, taut bass and good control and extention - that's what I look for. I think 50-70 good Watts may be enough, but how about the input sensitivity, impedance, gain etc? Are there any specs that must match my current SET to consider the amp for bi-amping?
Hi Aleks,I think you have asked a very reasonable question. You have some efficient horn hybrids but you are currently driving them with a 15w SET amp ... and this by definition, is not very powerful!! :-)) I personally can't imagine 15w being enough to drive ANY speakers adequately - unless you listen in nearfield, quietly - because of the power requirement to deliver transients "perfectly" ... 10x ... 100x average power? ... but, absolutely, by getting a second amp to deal with the bass drivers you should be able to get better sound! :-))
Bi-amping the speakers with an ss amp for the woofers would IMO certainly give you better sound but I suggest the best situation would be to take out the passive XO and go active (this is what I've done with my Maggies). This is difficult for some speakers so, if yours are in this category then I recommend you:
* get hold of an ss amp of, say, 100wpc.
* this needs to have the same gain as your SET (or very close!)You may have a problem with the match between the EAR 869 preamp output impedance and the input impedance of whatever ss amp you choose. Is the preamp stage in the EAR valve or ss? If it's valve then the output impedance might be very high?
There is a "rule of thumb" which says Zout (the output impedance) of the preamp should be AT LEAST 10 times less than the Zin (input impedance) of the power amp ... so investigate this when you are choosing a ss power amp. If you go for another tube power amp, you won't have this problem (as typically Zin is high) but - again IMO - a tube amp does not kick bass butt like a ss amp does!! :-))
Good luck,
You think a SET on just the tweeters of a triamped 2.7 Maggie would work?
Which means "Thanks For Unassuming, Comprehensive and Knowledgeable Answer" :))!
If yours is at least 10wpc then I think, yes, it would be up to the job!! :-))Regards,
whats "AIUI"?
.
Listen up Mate. There are really just three types of people. Trilingual - people that speak three languages, bilingual - those that speak two, and Americans. I'm a Yank. 'Nuff said. :> )
You know, in the eighties it was hip to talk "jive talk" ... like that hilarious film with Steve Martin and I think Queen Latifer, where Steve thinks he's a hepcat! :-))Now, with all the SMS lingo around, I thought "AIUI" would be perfectly clear! :-((
And BTW, I like to think of myself as cunnilingual! ;-))
Regards,
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