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 2 responses by unsound

unsound
7,308 posts
 

In addition to what has already been posted; the Dunlavy's with their 1st order cross-overs have significant overlap, ideally you would be using two identical amplifiers.

I would not recommend bypassing the Dunlavy cross-overs, as they are custom tweaked for each pair of speakers to a lab reference.

unsound
7,308 posts
 

I agree with Millercarbon, use the KISS approach. You don’t have the ideal pre and your using different amps. IMHO, the Alpeh 5 is not the best match for the Dunlavy’s with what I believe to be a 3 Ohm minimum impedance.

I suggest you sell both amps, and get one more appropriate for your needs.

If you absolutely want to bi-amp; get a different pre with dual identical outputs that mate with identical matching amps that better suit your speakers.

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