2. amps-preamps
  3. 148911-33344

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

Just picked up a BAT vk 200 for the bass and using my Pass Aleph 5 for the mids and tweets. Ive never played around with bi amping so I apologize in advance for any lame questions My speakers are Dunlavy SC3's original 5.5 nominal load. The pass is 90 wpc at 4 Ohm and the BAT is 200 wpc at 4 ohm so Im guessing around 75 wpc off the Pass Amp and 150 plus with the Bat Amp. My pre amp is a Aleph P and Im running the Single ended through a XLR adaptor (cause the Bat is Balanced inputs only) and the pass Aleph 5 off the XLR outputs of the pre and inputs of the Pass amp. The PASS Pre Amp manual says there is a 6db differential between the RCA and XLR outputs  two and both can be driven at the same time. So the RCA is 9db and the XLR is 15 db. Gain is within 2db on each amp. So whats the best way to do this? Get a custom XLR "Y" connector and drive both off the XLR output of the pre? Or is there a way better way to get the magic? This is past my "WORLD" Map and experience so Id thought Id ask for the smart people for advice. 

Thank you in advance!

-ALLGOOD
128x128haywood310

Showing 3 responses by mrdecibel

mrdecibel
2,897 posts
 
Specifically, the amp with the higher gain ( the amp that plays louder at the same preamp level ) would need to have a stereo input level control, so you can turn it down a bit. The Bay has plenty, just type in " passive level control ". Douk Audio comes to mind ( they make xlr and single ended ), and Schiit ( the company ) makes a passive called the Sys, which is single ended only. Hope this helps. Enjoy ! MrD.
mrdecibel
2,897 posts
 
AL, my thoughts exactly ! lol 
mrdecibel
2,897 posts
 
I have been an advocate of passive vertical biamping forever, because, speakers such as the Dunlavy line, easily show sonic differences between amplifiers, and to maintain coherence, it is the only way to go. Not to mention, the amplifiers maintain much better control in this configuration. I urge the OP, to seek out another exact Pass amp, and vertically biamp the Dunlavys, because it has been my experience, he has not heard what the Dunlavys are capable of. Understanding how difficult it would be to attain another Pass amp, it would be worth seeking out anyway, or, finding another pair of high quality stereo amps and vertically biamp. Of course, this could lead to another thread, as to finding a pair of amplifiers to replace the sonics of his Pass, but passive vertical biamping has been most impressive for me over the years. Just my final thoughts on the matter, understanding this thread has come to an end. Enjoy ! MrD.
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