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Bi-Amp Crossover Advice

I have 3 questions:

1)to finally bi-amp my Maggie 3.6R's I need a crossover and I am trying to decide between a Bryson 10b, Marchand 44 or Marchand 126. I plan on using the 2 amps and a sub, so I want to run one amp to the high/mid section of the Maggies and the other amp to the bass panel. Then I want to use the crossover to sum the low frequency and send to the sub (probably below 38hrz). I am shying away from the Marchand 126 because I have read several reviews that say it can color the sound, and I don't want that. I want to hear the amps, not the crossover. So any comments on the Marchand vs the Bryston??

1) I am keeping my Cary CAD 500 MB's for the bass panels, and either using the Cary 120s or (2)McIntosh MC275's bridged. I am leaning towards the Cary for continuity and cost. I am just wondering if 120w per channel is enough for the high/mid's? I am also thinking about the Rogue 150 MB's? Opinions on this set up? I like the idea of the McIntosh amps, I have always loved them, and even if the bi-amping doesn't float my boat, I would prob keep at least one of them, just because they are such awesome amps.

3) With the cost of this "improvement" should I just upgrade my amps to the Bryston 28sst instead? Net cost would be about the same>

Thanks.
macdadtexas
teajay
1,655 posts
 
Macdadtexas, if you want the crossover to be "out" of the sonic chain, I recommend the Bryston X-over then. I have not found a better x-over for my MG-20's. The Pass Labs x-over is a step above sonicly, but retails for around five or six thousand dollars, they come up used every so often.

Jallen, no disrespect to your position that Bryston amps are the "best" sounding SS amps you can use on Maggies, however that leaves out system synergy and personnal taste. I have had Bryston amps power my MG-20's and have always found that, to my ears, Pass Labs amps always sound more musical to me in my system.
tpsonic
1,092 posts
 
Why not use a Dahlquist LP-1.It can be easily upgraded and isn't bad in stock form.
satch
329 posts
 
Are you talking bi-amping, in which both amps get the entire signal, and then feed the crossover, or do you want to go active? By going active I mean: the signal from the preamp is fed to an active crossover, which feeds the poweramps (each amp getting a limited frequency spectrum), which are directly connected to the Maggies.
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
Satch, I am talking active. Both the crossovers I mentioned are active x-overs.

Jallen, I have used the Bryston 14bsst in my system previously, and it is a special synergy. But to be honest, not the best amp I have used. My current Cary CAD 500 MB's I feel are a level above, and I thought the Innersound MonoBlocks were in the same league.

That is good info on the 28 Bsst's though, thanks.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Mac said, "I want to run one amp to the high/mid section of the Maggies and the other amp to the bass panel. Then I want to use the crossover to sum the low frequency and send to the sub (probably below 38hrz)."

Would you not then need a three way crossover?

Bob

"If the first 100db suck, why continue?"
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