active crossover freqncy for Totem Mani2

Hi Bdgregory,

You are right on, the purpose is indeed to bi-amp with two Accuphase P-102 stereo amps. The reason is that the P-102 do not support bridge mono mode.

I understand Totem is suggesting to use passive horizontal bi-amping but I am confused as how to achieve it (by using a Y adapter?) and how would that imply on the load average between the two P-102s.

I guess my question is, #1 if there is a way to load balance two stereo amplifiers evenly and to achieve maximum return on bi-amping and #2 would an active crossover benefit and how do I determine the crossover frequencies to get for the Mani-2.

If you have experience on actively bi-amping the Mani-2 with frequencies dividers like the Accuphase F-25, please educate me :)

Thanks.

If you can find out the crossover frequency of the Mani-2's you can come close, i'm not sure how good it would be. you would need to put your F25 behind your preamp, find the crossover frequency of the Mani-2's run your F-25 out to your amps, probably around 2K (you will need this frequency).
I looked at a frequency chart online for the Mani-2's, they appear to be using LR4 slopes. The Accuphase uses Gaussian, so right off the bat, you will have a passive network using one type crossover slope and an electronic using another. If you really want to do this, I recommend that you just get the drivers, make your own boxes without crossover units and use the Accuphase equipment. The Forest Drivers are available, I have impedence curves for them, you would need to put a compensation network inline with no filters, then you can use the Accuphase stuff, the results would be outstanding. Really what you are trying to do is possible, but impractical.

Duh, I looked at the frequency chart online??.. I went back, it is higher than I expected, the chart is small, somewhere between 3K & 3.2K.

Thanks for the information Timlub. Based on the reply I received from Totem it looks like it's impractical to go active.

Perhaps this is the reason why Totem recommends to bi-amp passively so the filtering is done internally with the mani-2 crossover.

Cheers,

given you have 2 identical amps - I suggest you go vertical biamp. Given your preamp doesn't have dual pre-outs - all you need is a y adapter - I have my home theater front mains set up this way - I run one interconnect from my preamp for each channel - and have an audioquest y adapter ( 1 F to 2 M connectors) that splits the signal and feeds each channel on the amp. Then simply run your speaker wires from each channel to the top and bottom binding posts on the Mani.

The only way you can use your F-25 is to remove the internal x-overs in the Manis and re-wiring the binding posts to connect directly to the drivers. You do not want to mess with that and I can't imagine you will like the result after you destroy the Mani's.