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

Just picked up a BAT vk 200 for the bass and using my Pass Aleph 5 for the mids and tweets. Ive never played around with bi amping so I apologize in advance for any lame questions My speakers are Dunlavy SC3's original 5.5 nominal load. The pass is 90 wpc at 4 Ohm and the BAT is 200 wpc at 4 ohm so Im guessing around 75 wpc off the Pass Amp and 150 plus with the Bat Amp. My pre amp is a Aleph P and Im running the Single ended through a XLR adaptor (cause the Bat is Balanced inputs only) and the pass Aleph 5 off the XLR outputs of the pre and inputs of the Pass amp. The PASS Pre Amp manual says there is a 6db differential between the RCA and XLR outputs  two and both can be driven at the same time. So the RCA is 9db and the XLR is 15 db. Gain is within 2db on each amp. So whats the best way to do this? Get a custom XLR "Y" connector and drive both off the XLR output of the pre? Or is there a way better way to get the magic? This is past my "WORLD" Map and experience so Id thought Id ask for the smart people for advice. 

Thank you in advance!

-ALLGOOD
128x128haywood310
hifidream's avatar
hifidream
135 posts
 
@readargos 
That’s why I bought the Magnepan 20.1, my dealer told me I literally got the last pair assembled. The new Maggies have their crossovers built in, I always dreamed of having an active set up and bi-amping so the 20.7 was out. The difference in sound quality is significant taking advantage of this feature. 
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,821 posts
 
@hifidream, the pre- .7 series Maggies are just about the easiest to bi-amp speakers available. The .7 have series crossovers, so it takes internal surgery to bi-amp them. The earlier models have parallel crossovers, and as you know a line-level x/o can be easily substituted for the stock speaker-level one. In the owners manual for my Tympani T-IVa, bi-amping is encouraged. I have a First Watt B4 x/o for just that purpose.
hifidream's avatar
hifidream
135 posts
 
@bdp24 I love Nelson’s First Watt work. I’m sure the B4 sounds great. The Tympani speakers move a lot of air. . . I think the new 30.1s can take a bi-amp configuration as I read in the set up from Magnepan that wire needs to be run between the base and mid/high panels. They have even more surface area than the Tympani speakers. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to hear them sometime and see for myself. They look awesome. . . I find it interesting that the 30.1s moves back to the true ribbon tweeter as well which both the Tympani and 20.1s have.

I had a long listening session with my wife’s friend who said the system sounded better then a “live.” It was a lot of fun, I so enjoy exposing people to the hobby. I wish it were more mainstream. 
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
I have a First Watt B4 x/o
I want that, where do you live?
 https://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/132493410045-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

Cheers George
hifidream's avatar
hifidream
135 posts
 
Hi George,

Check out Nelson’s site:
http://www.firstwatt.com/b4.html

His First Watt work is being distributed by Pass Labs dealers. You can pick one up for $1,500. Reno Hi-Fi will sell them as a special order for example. 

I bet bdp24 has a good security system like all of us! No chance of snagging one from him :)

Have fun! 
Steve


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