Bi amp pros out there I could use some help! First time Bi Amping...

My perception over the years is that many members here have achieved good results with horizontal passive biamp configurations. I recognize that in general a vertical passive biamp configuration, using identical amps, is likely to be preferable from a sonic standpoint. And that inserting an active crossover ahead of the amps can **potentially** provide added benefits, while at the same time creating opportunity for error that would compromise the results. And that removing the internal crossover of the speakers (if practical) can **potentially** provide further added benefits, while also creating greatly increased opportunity for error that would lead to poor results. And that in many and probably most cases a well-chosen single-amp approach can provide better results than all of the above, while at the same time minimizing opportunity for error.

In this case the OP **already has the amps,** and as I explained earlier the configuration he described in his original post would avoid the various technical pitfalls that can arise when passively biamping with different amps. Others have recommended a KISS approach. It seems to me that under the circumstances biamping as the OP described in his original post would in fact be a KISS approach, as George also indicated. Which as I say corresponds to an approach that has been successfully used by more than a few members here.

Regards,

-- Al

I have been an advocate of passive vertical biamping forever, because, speakers such as the Dunlavy line, easily show sonic differences between amplifiers, and to maintain coherence, it is the only way to go. Not to mention, the amplifiers maintain much better control in this configuration. I urge the OP, to seek out another exact Pass amp, and vertically biamp the Dunlavys, because it has been my experience, he has not heard what the Dunlavys are capable of. Understanding how difficult it would be to attain another Pass amp, it would be worth seeking out anyway, or, finding another pair of high quality stereo amps and vertically biamp. Of course, this could lead to another thread, as to finding a pair of amplifiers to replace the sonics of his Pass, but passive vertical biamping has been most impressive for me over the years. Just my final thoughts on the matter, understanding this thread has come to an end. Enjoy ! MrD.

haywood310:

 I'm gonna stick with the Pass for the Dunlavys and try to Swarm (mutil sub) the bass.

Smart move. Massively more bang for the buck this way. The reviews on the Hsu ULS-15 MkII sound like you add another one or two of these and you will have AWESOME bass probably beyond your wildest dreams. Four of those in your room should go flat to subsonic with hella headroom. 

Bdp24 you are completely missing the point. The OP wanted to use the bi-amp feature designed into his speakers. In other words, the way they are supposed to work. The jury is still out on power ratio as far as I’m concerned. Bottom line is that the optimal configuration for his speakers is bi-amp. 

I am little late for the game and may have missed some fine points in comments, but wanted to add 2 cents. I have 4 way crossover with identical amplifiers (except for subs) and one of the issue I had not figured out was speaker impedance matching. The woofer (in parallel) had 3.5 ohms and midrange (in series) had 8 ohms. All experts told me that would not cause problems but every time, I increased the volume, the sound stage would move forward. Once I matched all speaker impedance, sound stage is stable.