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Amp, One Set of Speaker Connections Or Two?

I’m no expert in much of the audio equipment specs and opinions about what is best, that’s for sure, but I am in the camp that biamping speakers is better than one lead to the speakers and using the speaker post couplers. I know that also can be a contentious debate. I’m just relating my opinion on that because in my experience, I’ve noticed better sound from my speakers when they are biamped.

That brings me to my question... because I’ve been thinking of adding a new stereo amplifier to my home theater for when I listen to 2 channel music, and really do like the Parasound Halo A21, but, it only has one set of speaker outputs so biamping is out, or get a set of speaker cables that split, and I’d rather not do that. But, question is, should an amp anticipate that some people are going to want to biamp their speakers and build their unit with two sets of speaker outputs instead of one?

Just looking for opinions and other people’s experiences.

I will add that in my back room I have a high end Dell desktop I stream Amazon Unlimited Music on to a Yamaha Natural Sound Integrated Amplifier A-S801 via an Audioquest USB A to B cable, and are pushing Bowers & Wilkins DM-604 S2 with a single 10 gauge cable to each, although the Yamaha does have speaker A & B connections, I haven’t biamped the speakers, yet, because it actually sounds pretty good.

Thanks in advance for thoughts and opinions.
hog_tech
reubent
6,990 posts
 
@hog_tech  - You cannot bi-amp with a single 2-channel amplifier, like the A21, regardless of how many speaker connections it has. 2 channel amplifiers that have A&B speaker connections share the 2 channels of amplification between the 4 speakers. The amplifier connects the 2 Left speaker cables and the 2 right speaker cables inside of the amplifier.

If you want to bi-amp, you need 4 channels of amplification.

You can bi-wire with a 2-channel amplifier that has 2 sets of speaker connectors. However, you can also bi-wire with one set of speaker connectors, running bi-wire cable that are 1 into 2 (one set of connectors on the amp side, 2 sets of connectors on the speaker side). Or you can stack 2 pair of speaker cables using spades, or spades and bananas, as Eric suggested.  
erik_squires
16,058 posts
 
Having 2 pairs of speaker outputs does not mean you have 2 amps. :)

My integrated has this, so I can use 2 pairs of speakers, A or B or A AND B. this is purely a convenience feature. Still single amp.
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 

As per Denon definition: you need four channels of amplification to power a single pair of loudspeakers.  The definition is poorly worded.

Buy two A21's if you really want to bi-amp.

Otherwise, if your loudspeakers have two sets of terminals, get another set of speaker cables to bi-wire.

sonicjoy
146 posts
 
I’m afraid the previous posters are correct. Bi amping requires 2 stereo or 4 mono amps (or 1 4 channel amp). As mentioned if your amp or receiver has an A and B speaker terminals it is still a two channel amp. It is not the same thing so if you want to bi-amp with the A 21 you will need two of them. I think you will be better off bi wiring them. I prefer using two separate sets of speaker cables and keep them separated from each other to avoid EMI interaction with each other and keep them off the floor as well. One of the main reasons for improvement with bi-wire and bi-amping is the elimination of the bad sounding jumpers that most speakers that are bi-wire capable come with. Omega Mikro sells pure copper ribbon jumpers that are a big improvement over most factory jumpers. At about $40 they are cheap to try. See them here: http://shop.mapleshadestore.com/Clearview-Biwire-Jumpers_p_1187.html
Might just save you another $3000. The sonic improvements of bi-amping/wiring are subtle and I can think of many other upgrades I would rather make for $3000. I think you would need a serious highly resolving system to justify it. But as always in this hobby YMMV.
Cheers.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
So here's how we settle this little argument. Its really very simple. You take your best shot at bi-amping. You add up everything you spent. Then you go on-line and buy whatever Synergistic Research cable you can find for that amount of money. Which one does not matter. New or used does not matter. Not for this. Well technically it does a little, only because new you have 30 days to return for any reason. 

Which is indeed a technicality. Because when you hear how much better it sounds than anything you can do bi-amping it will not be going back. But all your bi-amping stuff will be going in the dumpster. Because nobody wants it. Because bi-amping hasn't been a thing for like 30 years. Because you can always do better for less with just one good cable. Always.

But please do not take my word for it. Don't argue it. Settle it. Go and listen.
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