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Amp output to 2 speakers

Each channel of my Proceed Amp 3 has a pair of speaker terminals. I've been using the pair of terminals of the LR channels to "biamp" large KEF R107/2s and using the pair of center terminals to drive a pair of small R102s. I think I'll be replacing the Amp 3 with a more powerful Proceed HPA 3 that doesn't have dual pairs of terminals for each channel. For LR, I'll just convert "biamp" to true biwire. But is it OK to connect the terminals of the center amp to both 102s. That is, two cables for each binding post of the center amp that feed separate speakers. The Amp 3 is rated at 250 watts per channel into 4 ohms; the HPA 3 500 watts. The manual for the HPA 3 discusses bridging and biamping techniques.

db
dbphd
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I don't understand the references to splitting and combining. If I interpret correctly that you are addressing insertion of a KUBE into the signal path to the single amp channel that is driving the paralleled R102's, just use one channel of the KUBE and leave the other unconnected. Convert balanced to unbalanced at its input with one single-channel Jensen transformer, in the same manner you successfully used for each of the main channels as discussed in this thread.

Regards,
-- Al
dbphd OP
1,633 posts
 
Thanks, Al. I'll buy another ISO MAX PI XR to convert XLR to RCA, take the RCA through the 102 KUBE followed by a short RCA-XLR cable to the amp. I'll also change out the RCA cables between the 107/2 KUBE and the amps for RCA-XLR cables, according to your post at the earlier thread.

PS: I emailed my audiophile friends about the problem, and included your suggestions. The most knowledgable of them wrote back that your advice has always been good.

db
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Sounds good! And thanks for the feedback.

Regarding the RCA-to-XLR cables, be sure to note that per Figure 2.1 of the Jensen paper I referenced in the earlier thread the cable should be two-conductor shielded (which is what is generally used in XLR-to-XLR cables), not coaxial (which is used in many RCA-to-RCA cables), with the connections at each end as shown in the figure.

Best regards,
-- Al
dbphd OP
1,633 posts
 
The system can generate such a strong centered image in stereo I've found myself putting ear to center channel to confirm I'm listening to stereo. So I decided to try 4.1 rather than 5.1 by setting the menus of the Oppo 95 and Cary Cinema 11a to turn off the center channel. (The Oppo output is analog but the DirecTV HD-DVR is HDMI.) 4.1 seems entirely satisfactory, so I suppose the issue of two speakers with one amp could go away. For the time being, I'll leave the dormant center channel in place. I assume without a signal, the 2 ohm load is moot. Is that true?

db
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
I assume without a signal, the 2 ohm load is moot. Is that true?
Yes, that is true.

Best regards,
-- Al
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