Bi-Amping Options B&W 801 Series 2
New to me Bowers & Wilkins floor-standing full-range monitors with two sets of binding posts.
Currently have dual MC252 solid-state amps (with autoformers) connected as follows: (1) to both bass drivers and (1) to midrange and treble drivers.
Meanwhile, I have a Rogue Audio Stereo 100 sitting idle (although I could hook it up to my vintage Warfedales). I’m wondering if I would be better served by bridging both the MC252s and putting them both on bass duty (500 Watts to each driver), and put the Stereo 100 to use driving the midrange and tweeters. What do you think?
Especially interested to hear from someone with experience driving this particular speaker, which sounds wonderful, by the way. My system is fully described (but not well pictured) under my profile in Virtual Systems. And, if anyone has a lead on an original Bass Alignment filter, I’m all ears.
Yes, so sorry for your loss. May your memories of her remain vibrant and detailed for all of your days. My best advice with these speakers is to give them tubes and the best of those that you can; yes, this means to disregard the advice to give them big solid state power; I’ve done both; with respect to sound quality, the former far exceeds the latter. And most importantly, give them the cleanest path between them and their power...magic is then possible. |
@xenolith Thank you. I just hooked up the Rogue Stereo 100 to the ‘High Frequency’ taps and the sound is so sweet. I prepared a long post to update everyone on this thread, but lost it all on an errant finger click trying to preview it. Oh well. The 2nd MC252 has Ben removed from the temporary system downstairs to drive the McIntosh XRT20s that are being installed on the ‘New System’ upstairs. If the XRT20’s need another MC252 to get off the ground they’ll get it. Testing the XRT20‘s revealed that they need a lot of juice to move the woofers; haven’t hooked up the tweeters yet: we’ll see. Again, thanks for the sympathy and advice. |
@lowrider57 Thank you for the kind words. As best I can tell, the crossovers are, and always have been separate. From the response I’m getting on this thread they may well not be stock. In any case there are others for sale, so I’m not as worried about the ‘Bass Alignment’ option as I once was. The bass is powerful and clean without any additional equalization. Thank you for your concern. |
With identical amps you are better off splitting them horizontally. That is, one amp per side. This spreads out any current demands on the power supply more evenly. The alternative puts all the strain on the bass on one amplifier's power supply. Also, PS - Bass alignment filters can be fully compensated for in Roon using the DSP features. |
