biamplification wiring how-to

Dq10tom
It i always better to keep all speaker cables the same length for each channel.8 feet is the normal.6 is nicer.No problem though if someone needs extra long runs.Interconnects follow the same rules.Others try for longer interconnects and shorter speaker cables,that way the amp is closer to the speakers.Physical and electrical.My speaker runs are 6 fet and my interconnects 25.I didn't need a 25 feet interconnect run but found a good deal in the used cables market.
Best
George

Would you need the y splitters if you already have two sets of preamp outs. Also, do the forte amps have a mono switch. Will you have 100wpc class a with two 50 watt stereo amps?

Cmpromo,

If your pre has 2 sets of outputs you can either use 2 pairs of IC's out to the amps or splitters and just 1 pair of IC's. From George's, Yioryos, posts I gather that he and I are bi-amping in very similar fashion. My IC's out to the amps are perhaps 1 meter shorter than his. As you can imagine, a quality IC of this length will not be cheap so I elected to use only one set of outputs and a single pair of IC's out to the amps. I then use a Cobalt Cable XLR-XLR y-connector to feed each channel of the amps. There could be a slight degredation with this setup vs. using a pair of IC's, but with truely balanced components I doubt it would be much.

I'm using the vertical bi-amp configuration that Tripper described. I found that in my system this had the best sound vs. the horizontal method. I have also found that the amps I have owned have sounded best when not used in bridged mode. I have not owned true monoblocks to date. Maybe someday.

George, if you're still following this thread, did you need to use an active x-over with the ML and Rogue amps?

Tripper,

I also have NAD power amps in a second system that are bridged mono. I found that by far the best sound IMHO was achieved by isolating right and left channels. No splitter used in this configuration. The L and R fixed level preamp outputs are each connected to the left channel input of a power amp. This is required when operating in bridged mono mode. One power amp is then connected with a pair of matched speaker cables to the left speaker (one run to the +/- bass connections and the other to the +/- treble connections). Same thing for right speaker with the other amp. This gives complete channel separation and provides plenty of clean power.

Dan-ed Hi
No actually I haven't try active yet,but for sure I will one day.Bryston's Active crossovers are very well regarded.My Aerial 10T have very nice build in crossovers though.Perhaps my current set-up is a compromise, can't say for sure.I am experimenting and upgrading as my budget allows,also life gets in the way sometimes with our audiophile hobby,I think.Years ago I bought a new pair of JBL L7 speakers,they came with a nice manual by JBL.It was in that manual that I first read about bi-amping with four tubed monoblocks or two tubed monoblocks for mids/highs and solid state monoblocks for lows.My Mark Levinson is in fact a dual mono power-amp .In it's manual Madrigal cautions that a performance of the 27.5 degrades slightly when user turns the amp into monoblock configuration.I believe this holds for other high-end amps as well.Unless they are made true monoblocks from factory.I got a CJ MV55 as well and years back I wrote to Conrad Johnson regarding turning the amp into monoblock they told me that it wasn't a great idea but they could do if I insisted.
I didn't do it.
Both amps sound great as they are.That is why I bought my Rogue M150's since they are true monoblocks ,I use then as they were intented.
Best
George