2. amps-preamps
  3. 1212486736

Need help What monoblock power amps for bass?

I own a pair of Silverline Sinfonia speakers.These are very large speakers (over 240 lbs. each),96 dB and 8 ohm stable.Very aesy load for any amp,so power is not mandatory,anything over 50W/ch is OK..
They are tri-ampable.I am looking for opinions on what monoblock amps to use for bass drivers ONLY.Each Sinfonia has two 12" woofers and one 7" woofer.7" driver also contributes to midrange,so this is the trickiest part of my amplification story.I don't want mellow and soft bass,but don't want cold vocals either.
I plan to use either tube or SS monos and limit them whit a potentiometer in order to achieve a tonal balance with midrange and tweeter.Midrange and tweeter will be powered with 320B XLS SET monos (30W/ch).
The areas i am looking for in bass are - slam,speed,definition and ambience.I like fast and tight bass (often connected with SS amps),that is a priority.
Any suggestions will be very welcomed.
audiobb
audiobb OP
103 posts
 
What about shunt-type attenuator?I am thinking about ordering a pair of Endler's attenuators,connected straight into power amp(these already have RCA plug joined with them,so there is no interconnect cable to drive from preamp to power amp).Why not use these,or at least try them,and then build a similar style with Vishay S 102 for example?
Seems to me that having only one resistor in signal path is better than more of them.
Atma,why is active crossover neccesary with bi-amping?What about the passive crossover in speaker?Seems to me that each driver still gets the range it needs.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,177 posts
 
Audiobb, you can use the passive crossovers in the speaker if they are designed in such a way to allow for separate amps. The problem is that while the speaker only sees the frequencies it is supposed to, the amp still has to reproduce full-range. You get a lot more power out of the system if you have an outboard active crossover to sort that out for you.

In the case of the passive crossover allowing for bi-amplification, it does seem to sound better than using an electronic crossover. A feature of our amps is that they can be monostrapped together; this always works better than running one top and one bottom, assuming that they are the same model.
audiobb OP
103 posts
 
Thanks a lot Atma.Your knowledge always helps a lot.I think Sinfonia was designed for bi-amplification (actually for tri-amplification).

In the case of the passive crossover allowing for bi-amplification, it does seem to sound better than using an electronic crossover.

I thought this would be the case.
The reason for this is probably that there is one less element in the signal path.I think my speakers will work fine in multi-amp configuration,but i have to try and see.There is simply no other way.But first i need to treat the room.This is the next stage.
neway317
28 posts
 
I'm surprised that with a thread on solid state, monoblock, and bass, the Krell name only came up once! I haven't been fortunate enough to try any of the monoblocks (KSAs or FPBs)on my speakers, but I do have a KAV-300R and it's been able to give a lil nice tightness to my maggies, which or notorious for being a lil shy on the Bass part.

The bass is something that I do miss when I swap out the SS amp and hook up my Cary Sixpacs to the speakers.

Although the Bryston 7B does seem pretty legendary in this category. If I ever come across one, I might have to audition it with my Maggies.

I think there's something to be said for Mark Levinsons also...

You never mentioned your price range?
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,177 posts
 
A nice trick with Maggies, at least with tube amps, is keep the speaker cables short, really short, like maybe only 6 inches. I've heard that make a profound difference.
More to discover