Running Benchmark AHB2 in bridged mode and 4 Ohm Speaker

Ramtubes, could be my terminology is off, but if a loudspeaker has a built in power amp for the bass drivers and separate inputs for an external amp to drive the midrange/treble, then it requires bi-amping.

Ramtubes, could be my terminology is off, but if a loudspeaker has a built in power amp for the bass drivers and separate inputs for an external amp to drive the midrange/treble, then it requires bi-amping.

 We really shouldnt have to be doing all this guessing. I wish the OP would tell us more about how this speaker is set up in his system. 

I think he has the preamp/processor that goes with this speaker. If one looks at the back panel there is an XLR jack to drive the plate amp. There is one one pair of speaker terminals for the rest of the speaker so it cannot be biamped without going inside. What I do find curious is:  If you do not have their preamp, which is featured on the website, then where are you supposed to get the signal to drive the XLR?

If a speaker has a built in power amp  for the sub, no other amp is required there.  It wants a line level signal. So there is no biamping in this case. One could s

Many speaker makers, Vandersteen and others provide two pair of inputs that can be biwired, biamped or simply strapped for one amp. That is when biamping is possible. Some choose different amps in that situation as the upper speaker often needs less power than the lower (regardless of the sub). So a big SS amp on the bottom and a nice tube amp on the top. 

There are many of us who feel small amplifiers sound better. The sins that are committed in making a large amp will cause the lower power range to suffer. As an amplifier designer I happen to agree.

That is why the FTC stepped changed the rules in the 70's. Before distortion could be specified at full power where it is often lowest (in SS amps). At low levels there was often large amounts of crossover distortion. So they changed the rule to quote maximum distortion from 0.25 watts to full power. I would further reduce it to 0.000000025 watts to full power. We dont want distortion to climb at the bottom of the range.

It bothers me there is no sub control. Makes me think you have to buy their pre.

It bothers me there is no sub control. Makes me think you have to buy their pre.

I think the plate amp get a high level signal from the speaker terminals, and the xlr connection (room correction) may have something to do with this I found on line.
And there’s a passive xover illumination lamp switch, so you can see it through the side grills??, how tacky.
https://ibb.co/cKhCx0


https://hometheaterhifi.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/legacy-aeris-floorstanding-speaker-fig3-lg.jp...
"The bass section is powered by 1,000 watts of included ICEpower® amplification and offers exceptional extension to 18Hz.
The included 24-bit DSP room correction features balanced analog inputs and outputs for optimizing performance. The upper portion of the speaker cabinet is open air dipole for fast decay of mid-bass frequencies and airy spacious highs. The elegant design employs a 2.25” thick baffle with 2” side walls. LED Crossover Illumination within the upper portion of the cabinet reveals the intricately wired crossover design."

Cheers George

If I understand correctly Legacy Wavelet when used with Aeris at build time is configured to correct/adjust for the small errors among how different drivers work and also corrects for room also in the domain of time. I do like the idea of using dsp to correct these errors. I think from what I have heard in person it works well. No speaker can make the room go away!.

Buying passing Wavelet and the internal crossover is not an option, I think they add quite an amount of value. 

As I said before in an another thread, if I could redo this it will be an all active speaker. The more expensive ATC look quite good to me. I want active crossovers and internal amplification. No need for this amp matching speaker merry go around.

@ramtubes The tube amps you guys make look quite good.

Legacy Wavelet and Aeris are an integrated system. 

Meanwhile... Some ears at Stereophile are hearing the same attributes from the AHB2 as I have. Two honors each for the Benchmark DAC3 and AHB2. Kudos to Benchmark.