Bi wiring speakers (not bi amping!) Do you?

[par4ken]

I've never heard those terms before, what do they mean please?

I hadn't heard those terms either until recently in another thread. Horizontal bi-amping is when you use one stereo amplifier for the low frequencies and another amplifier for the highs. The advantage is that you could select a high power amplifier for the bass and use a smaller and likely better quality amplifier for the highs. The vertical option is when you use one stereo amplifier per channel with one side for the bass and the other for the highs.

Bi-amping vs Bi-wiring

Where would one purchase an active crossover? That is correctly tailored to the speakers in use? I've never seen such a thing advertised within the domestic hifi scene.

Likely not very common unless you look at professional equipment as well. They are very common in the car audio world. You can find many deals on eBay. Some units designed for domestic use are greatly overpriced. If you go the DIY route there are many boards and kits available for very little money.

The only real advantage that I can see for "passive" bi-amping is reduced power dissipation by the power amplifiers.

 

[Kal Rubinson]

Recurrent outbreaks of the bi-wiring and bi-amping discussions are inevitable since the disease is endemic in audiophilia.

 

[Owen Smith]

Horizontal bi-amping is when you use one stereo amplifier for the low frequencies and another amplifier for the highs. The advantage is that you could select a high power amplifier for the bass and use a smaller and likely better quality amplifier for the highs. The vertical option is when you use one stereo amplifier per channel with one side for the bass and the other for the highs.

That's a very fine nuance and doesn't warrant names in my view.

The only real advantage that I can see for "passive" bi-amping is reduced power dissipation by the power amplifiers.

Well it gives a clear audible improvement for me.

 

[Owen Smith]

Recurrent outbreaks of the bi-wiring and bi-amping discussions are inevitable since the disease is endemic in audiophilia.

The discussion disease or the disease of bi-wiring and bi-amping itself? Or possibly both?

 

[par4ken]

That's a very fine nuance and doesn't warrant names in my view.

I agree! The system I've set up in my Living room uses a single 8-channel professional Crown amplifier. What would that be classed vertical or horizontal? Vertical I guess as the same type amplifiers in the same box power both the highs and lows.

Another consideration is filter order and type. Personally I prefer 18 dB Butterworth, used in my original system. My other system uses 24 dB Linkwitz-Riley filters. Huge topic of discussion that I won't delve into here!

 

[Steve Bruzonsky]

Theta Digital has been making monoblock amplifiers to bi-wire if one wants for years. I've owned them all - Theta Digital Citadel 1.5s, Enterpises, and Promerheus. Each monoblock has a separate output (2 per monoblock) for woofer/midrange and tweeter.

https://www.thetadigital.com/prometheus/

 

[Kal Rubinson]

The discussion disease or the disease of bi-wiring and bi-amping itself? Or possibly both?

The discussion, to be sure. If I commented on bi-wiring/bi-amping I would be contributing to the current eruption.