Newbies Biamp question.


I'm considering to biamp my speakers. If I have a preamp that has two set of outputs, can I just feed them to poweramp and then send one output to the High and the other one to the Low binding post on my Speaker? Or I need other special equipments like active cross-over, etc. Then what if my preamp don't have two set of outputs can I achieve that with y-cable? Thanks for your help.

Supakit S.
supakit
Yes,with two main outs,it "could be that simple" /or not.I'm posting this so we will get lots of corrections, if I'm wrong. If both amps are simularily loud../ (meaning,say the volume is equal at the 9 o'clock position,for each amp.)This has to do with the input impedence,being equal.
If your preamplifier has two separate outputs, then you can indeed use that for bi-amping IF BOTH OF YOUR AMPLIFIERS HAVE EQUAL SENSITIVITY and IDEALLY EQUAL INPUT IMPEDANCE. If you use two identical amplifiers from the same manufacturer, then there is of course no problem. However, if the amplifiers are different as noted above, then it may be very difficult to properly integrate the bass response with the highs and mids. The resulting sound could range from "boomy" (if the bass amp is easier to drive than the other amp) to "light and tinny" (if the bass amp is difficult to drive) depending on the specifications for the bass and mid/hign amplifiers. It is in those circumstances that an external crossover is especially desirable. But an even an external crossover requires a lot of fine-tuning to get everything to sound right. My recommendation, if you want to bi-amp, is to make life much easier on yourself and use two identical amplifiers. As for your question about using a "Y" connector, yes that can be done though having two separate preamp outputs is certainly preferable on the principle that the fewer cables and cable connections, the better.
Hifixpert & Supakit; assuming your pre-amp does have two sets of output terminals, it depends on whether or not they are both "active" at the same time (is this series wired?) or not. If both sets are active at the same time you could use them both, but it would require 2 pairs of ICs, one pair to each amp. Whereas if you use just one set of pre-amp outputs you would need a "Y" connector on the amplifier end of your ICs. I am in the process of setting up a passive vertical bi-amp to each speaker using two amps also, and intend to use a single set of pre-amp outs with a "Y" on the amp end. My pre-amp does have two sets of output terminals, but I don't know if they are simultaneously active-- I need to find this out. Steve McCormack has recommended using a single set of ICs with the "Y". If you don't know how the output terminals of your pre-amp are wired, you could do some serious damage if you plug two sets of ICs into your amp(s)-- I think. I need to look into this more myself. Good Luck to us. Craig.
I kmow biamping can have it's benefits, but I have to ask. If you are new to this, why worry about biamping? I think you should just try to put together the best, simplist system you can. After all, you will probably be changing it shortly anyway. You will find system matching of equiptment and cables to be quite a task, if done correctly. You can always add an amp later if you must, but there are great systems out there that aren't biamped. It seems to me that you may end up losing money if you start out by biamping, unless you make very wise purchases, that you will be able to recoup.
Hi Blbloom: thanks for you suggestion. I forgot to tell you that I've been working out with my separate system for a while. I've been changing 4 multi-channel poweramps, 2 receivers, 1 processor, 4 pairs of speakers and 4 external DACs within 4 months period. I should have read you suggestion 4 months ago. Well I never try biamping, so I'm considered myself a newbie for biamping. I'm also doubt in performance of biamping (100watts x 2 each speaker) compare to 200 watts directly to each speaker. If anyone have this kind of experiment, please share your experience. Thanks a lot...