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Another Bi-Amp Question

I have B&W 805's for front speakers and a Pioneer Elite A/V Receiver (VSX92THX). The speakers max power handling is 120W and the Receiver max output is 130 watts into all channels. Here is my question- I can biamp the fronts using the surround rear speaker outputs. Would I need to worry about frying my speakers? In otherwords, would the B&W handle max 120W into each driver? Or, would I be putting out (max ) 130w X 2 into each speaker?). Sounds awesome the way it is but if I can grab a bit more power w/o damaging anything, why not? (It is an HT system only).

Thanks,
128x128cerrot
cerrot's avatar
cerrot OP
1,700 posts
 
Thanks. The speakers are capable and I do know how to configure them. I do play my movies LOUD. Is it 2 times 130 watts into one speaker rated at $120 watts? Does someone know? That's my question.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
You can try it but why? Assuming(!) the quoted numbers are accurate, you have speakers with a max power handling of 120w connected to amp channels with 130w output. How could or why would you think that biamping would get you any more volume output (without distortion)?

Kal
cerrot's avatar
cerrot OP
1,700 posts
 
I don't need to increase volume output, nor was I aksing if hey would play louder. As I said, system sounds great. Advantage of biamping isn't necessarilly to play louder. If I wanted louder, I would get more effecient speakers and larger amps - and a larger room.

Theoretically, is it 260 watts into the speaker?..are biampable speakers rated by the entire speaker or the biampable inputs? I thought a simple question. Not aksing for opinions or why I should.

Thanks for your help.
hifitime
715 posts
 
If this could be done,you will have a power loss and lower volume.If your speakers are 8 ohm and you split them,each half will be about 16 ohms.Hooking the 16 ohm half to the receiver will cause the power output to drop to approximately 65 watts since it will be driving a 16 ohms load.This will cause about a 3 db loss in sound.You'll have about 65 watts x 4,if your equipment allows bi-amping.I could only see a volume loss doing this.
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,693 posts
 
Cerrot: The only possible reason for bi-amping (without replacing the built-in crossover with a custom external one) is to increase the power output to the speaker. However, any such increase is minimal. There is no reason to expect any other difference for the bother. (Gratuitous opinion.)

Hifitime: That is simply false. Impedance analysis will demonstrate that each leg of a crossover will still show the same impedance as the combination since each leg will have a very high impedance outside of the pass-band for that leg. The individual and combined pass-band impedances are the same. Thus, with biamping there is no loss of output and any power increase is real but minimal (<3dB).

Kal
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