2. amps-preamps
  3. 149231-126373

Splitter -- One preamp to two amps. What to use?

I need your help! If people are bi-amping, How are they connecting from their preamp to their two amps and to their speakers?

I am currently running my NAD 1700 preamp with two separate outputs. One is a Lab unfiltered RCA out which goes to my Mid’s and Highs into one of my NAD 2600 amps. And I have a second RCA Normal, which is lower fidelity which runs thru another NAD 2600 into my woofers. I then run two sets of 10 gauge Blue Jean cable to each speaker. What I would like to do us upgrade my speaker wire ( AudioQuest Redwood or DR Acoustics Red Sky Bi wire ) which are bi-wire cables and bridge my amps to achieve 450 watts per channel.

Here is the problem. In order to do this I need to split the one output from the Lab RCA on my preamp to feed the two separate amps. I am currently using Audioquest Waters and hate to put something inline that is a lower quality than the Waters.

I can’t believe I am the only one with this problem. How are the smart audiophiles addressing this problem?
captaindidactic
captaindidactic OP
79 posts
 
yogiboy  
I thought about the Y adapter, but I am wondering if that will degrade the sound by putting in an inferior jumper in the middle of the line. 

mijostyn
Sounds Intriguing, But how do you bypass all the crossovers in the speakers? My big Acoustic Research TSW 910's are 6 way speakers. Also, from a purist standpoint ( fewest things inline is better ) How does an active crossover change the sound? Or is it like everything else...Try it and see??
cat_doorman
237 posts
 
Maybe I missed something, but if you are bridging your amps then why do you need a splitter at all? If I read it right, now you have 4 channels of amplification by running each amp in stereo, one for HF one for LF. If you bridge your amps to mono then you will only have 2 channels, that you can then bi-wire if you so desire.
kalali's avatar
kalali
1,977 posts
 
You also need to keep in mind that in most cases using both preamp’s outputs at the same time running two separate but identical amps, will present half of one of the amp’s input impedance to the preamp. Depending on the preamp output impedance and the amp input impedance, e.g., ratio of 1 to 10, etc., the results may impact the ultimate sound quality. 
captaindidactic OP
79 posts
 
cat_doorman
It was I who was missing something. I was thinking I needed two inputs into each amp, but you are right. I guess I only need one channel on each amp if I bridge. This would also solve the impedance problem. 

I guess the next question is How does bridging affect sound quality and is it better or worse than running two stereo amps? 

Thanks Guys!
mrdecibel
3,067 posts
 
Your best option, ime and imo, and this is because you have two exact stereo amplifiers, is to passively, vertically biamp the ARs. What this entails, is each amp drives one speaker. Each amp would have one channel feeding the bass, the other channel of the same amp feeding the midrange and treble. Repeat for the other channel. One rca channel from the preamp to each amplifier, with a y splitter going to each the left and right input of the amp. All 4 speaker wires should be the same ( same for the woofers, and same for the midrange and tweeters ). Y connectors would have a 1 female rca,  accepting from the preamp cable, to a pair of male rcas, going to each channel of each amp. Enjoy ! MrD.
More to discover