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Hooking up additional amps

I currently am using a Sonic Frontiers Line 3 preamp with an Aragon 8008BB amp. I am looking at picking up a pair of Vandersteen 4as and they need to be bi- or tri-wired. I saw a pair of mono amps that I am interested in and have the following question;

Can I use the Aragon for the woofers and use the monos for the mids and highs. The Line 3 has 2 balanced inputs and 2 single ended inputs for the amps. Can I use the 2 balanced ones for the monos and then connect the Aragon up to one of the single ended. If so, what benefits if any would I gain using a pair of single ended to xlr adapters to connect the Aragon.

Thanks in advanced for any and all assistance.
fleming_eric
rwwear
2,880 posts
 
When biamping without an electronic xover, it is important for the amps to be very similar in output. If you use the balanced outs on the Line 3, you will have 6db more output from the mono amps. Try it and see how it sounds. If need be, you can get a pair of balanced y cables and split the balanced signal and send it to the Aragon as well.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,696 posts
 
You can do what you describe but, as Rwwear has pointed out, you will need to encorporate some way to balance each amp to compensate for their different gain and for the difference in the Line 3's output levels between balanced and SE. You can eliminate the latter point by using both sets of balanced or both sets of SE for the amps.

Kal
programmergeek
322 posts
 
I would think you are better off not doing it, you have to deal with the amps sounding different and having different tonal signitutes. Vandersteens are very transparent and you could hear the difference in the amps. Along wiht the above issues.
fleming_eric OP
6 posts
 
So just hooking them up the way I described would not be the correct way of doing it. I guessI also want to know is can I use the balanced and single ended connections period. Or is it one or the other? I am looking at a pair of Odyssey Mono Extremes. If I go with these or any other monos, I would have to actually have to get tri-wire to connect the speakers unless the amps have dual posts for bi-amping. It has been recommended to use a separate amp for the bass. That's why I was going to get the Odysseys. Now how about this, (too many questions and I really appreciate your responses...), if I lucked up on a pair of Aragon Palladium II, which should probably match more closely to the output level or the 8008BB, could I then preform the connection I described?
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,696 posts
 
You seem confused: :If I go with these or any other monos, I would have to actually have to get tri-wire to connect the speakers unless the amps have dual posts for bi-amping." Dual posts are for biwiring, not biamping.

But, yes, you can use any and all of the outputs simultaneously. The BAL and SE are separately driven.

Kal (who believes you should ask Vandersteen if this is worth the candle)
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