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If bi-amping is so great, why do some high end speakers not support it?

I’m sure a number of you have much more technical knowledge than I. so I’m wondering: a lot of people stress the value of bi-amping. My speakers (B&W CM9, and Monitor Audio PL100II) both offer the option. I use it on the Monitors, and I think it helps.

But I’ve noticed many speakers upward of $5k, and some more than $50k (e.g., some of Magico) aren’t set up for it.

Am I missing something? Or is this just one of the issues on which there are very different opinions with no way to settle the disagreement?

Thanks folks…


rsgottlieb
don_c55
1,025 posts
 
Because of the expense of more power amps, and external crossover difficulties, very few audiophiles bi-amp.
Post removed 
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,418 posts
 
I agree with the above comments. Vandersteen is the exception in that they are designed to be biwired.

http://vandersteen.com/support/faqs
(Scroll down the page)
rsgottlieb's avatar
rsgottlieb OP
47 posts
 
Interesting stuff. I guess the people who really should answer this would be some speaker manufacturers. Get the ones who do it and the ones who don't together and let the fur fly. 
thanks for your informed responses. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,111 posts
 

There are sonic benefits to be gained by getting rid of the speaker-level crossover in a loudspeaker, instead filtering the signal before the power amps, the amps then powering the drivers directly. That requires the speaker be designed to be used in such a fashion, with the line-level crossover duplicating the standard speaker-level one, with no compensation networks for the drivers.

Bi-amping was recommended (by both Magnepan and their original distributor, ARC) for the pre-series .7 Magneplanars. The series .7 Maggies can not be bi-amped, for two reasons: The necessary speaker cable connectors are not present, and, more importantly, the series .7 crossovers are of series design, unlike those used in the pre-series .7 Maggies, which does not allow a simple "textbook" (1st, 2nd, 3rd, or 4th order filters) crossover.

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