Bi amp pros out there I could use some help! First time Bi Amping...

In the spirit of KISS as others have, here is a simple way to have more control and get as complicated as your OCD allows, add a Mini DSP 2x8 Active Crossover. It makes bi-amping super simple and you can integrate your sub swarm by ear, or get sophisticated and use room correction. The computer interface (connect via USB only while tuning) is clean and intuitive with visual on screen crossovers (start with what the manufacturer recommends) and adjust levels to match your amps. 

I had horizontally bi-amped for years with matching amps and it sounded good but recently vertically bi-amped my set up and it has much more punch. So I recommend finding another like model Pass amp to do it and you’ll love it. 

I am happy to discuss how to set it up if interested. To illustrate how far you can go: I’ve gone off the deep end with four subs (two in stereo) integrating seamlessly with my vertically bi-amped 20.1 Maggies. There are 12 bi-quad filters in each speaker created by Multi Sub Optimizer from data captured with Room EQ Wizard. The  crossovers look crazy and the result is jaw dropping.  

@readargos 
That’s why I bought the Magnepan 20.1, my dealer told me I literally got the last pair assembled. The new Maggies have their crossovers built in, I always dreamed of having an active set up and bi-amping so the 20.7 was out. The difference in sound quality is significant taking advantage of this feature. 

@bdp24 I love Nelson’s First Watt work. I’m sure the B4 sounds great. The Tympani speakers move a lot of air. . . I think the new 30.1s can take a bi-amp configuration as I read in the set up from Magnepan that wire needs to be run between the base and mid/high panels. They have even more surface area than the Tympani speakers. Perhaps I’ll get a chance to hear them sometime and see for myself. They look awesome. . . I find it interesting that the 30.1s moves back to the true ribbon tweeter as well which both the Tympani and 20.1s have.

I had a long listening session with my wife’s friend who said the system sounded better then a “live.” It was a lot of fun, I so enjoy exposing people to the hobby. I wish it were more mainstream. 

Hi George,

Check out Nelson’s site:
http://www.firstwatt.com/b4.html

His First Watt work is being distributed by Pass Labs dealers. You can pick one up for $1,500. Reno Hi-Fi will sell them as a special order for example. 

I bet bdp24 has a good security system like all of us! No chance of snagging one from him :)

Have fun! 
Steve

Bdp24 you’re right it was the case that he had stopped making them and you could get a kit but he made some tweaks to the design and it looks like he has a new model that is in production on a special order basis. . . I like to keep up with his designs in First Watt. He’s so innovative!

How much fun would it be to sit and listen to all the different designs he has come up with one after another and hear how they differ. Speaking of bi-amping, most of his work in First Watt are for efficient speaker designs and being able to vertically bi-amp them would allow them to be used with a lot more speakers. One can dream. . .