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Bi-Amping questions

Please excuse any indication of stupidity on my part in terms of the following question:

My current system is comprised of an Arcam CD player, a 60 watt Adcom amp, an NAD preamp and Linn Keilidh speakers which are bi-wired with Linn bi-wire cables. My interconnects are Audioquest Ruby.

I am very, very happy with this system and am not in a financial situation where I can do a big upgrade. However, I'd like more power as the system can sound a bit stretched at higher volumes.

Would it be better to add another Adcom amp (they are available used for great prices) and bi-wire or look into a more powerful single two-channel amp and forget about bi-amping?

If bi-amping is a good route, could someone explain how that would work? I'm interested in the concept.

THANKS in advance-

Brent
brentaric
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,468 posts
 
You said you like the sound of your system. Wait until you can afford a really good amp...this improvement will be much more to your liking. Bi-Amping will have a very slight if any audible improvement...you already bi-wire.
brentaric OP
1 posts
 
Thanks everyone. I made a typo and wrote "bi-wire" when I meant bi-amp, but it would seem everyone caught it.

Broad range of responses here. One of my closest friends has a tri-amped complete Linn system with Aktiv speakers, and I agree, the results are stellar.

I got it in my head to get a second MA, which I'm about 2/3's finished with, so bigger upgrades should be possible in a few years.

Having said that I sort of enjoy looking for a sound I like by hunting around for good deals.

My little Adcom doesn't appear capable of chaining, as there are no outputs to connect interconnects to another amp. That means it cannot be use for bi-amping, right?

Likewise, while my NAD preamp's manual says it can work with multiple amps, it only has two sets of outputs for the amp, one which is labeled "high" and would seem is only for using with specific speaker types.

I would need both a different amp and preamp to make bi-amping possible, right? Looks like many feel the easiest solution is to just upgrade to a more powerful and higher end amp.

Again, the little Adcom sounds great at any normal volume, but if being driven hard seems to get a tad harsh. I'd like to eliminate that.

Thanks again- sorry I'm all over the place.

Brent
rrog
1,958 posts
 
No, you don't need a different preamp. You need a "Y" at the inputs of your amplifiers.
mckeown's avatar
mckeown
11 posts
 
I had a pair of Sim Audio amplifiers which I bridged mono hooked up to a pair of Alon V MKII speakers. liked it well enough but wanted to try tubes. I bought a used pair of Cary V12r amplifiers and have been running them horizontally bi-amped. Am very happy with all aspects of the sound- never feel the need to switch to ultralinear, which I feel slightly degrades the overall sound. An improvement to my ear over the solid state Sim Audio. Don't know if the bi-amping contributed much to the result- too satisfied to screw with it- for now.
my recomendaton-if the other amp is cheap enough- buy it- play with it- see what it does for you. Your the only one who has to be happy with it.

mckeown
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