2. amps-preamps
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Is equal gain OK for bi-amping?

My speakers are bi-ampable. Can I use my W4S ICE amp for the lower portion (28db gain) and then find another amp like a small tube amp with equal gain to run the upper portion? My pre-amp has multiple outs and I want to do this without another volume control between the pre and one of the amps. So my question really is: Will equal gain amps alow me to bi-amp without the need of input volume adjustments? Also is 1 db of difference in gain going to make a big difference?
koestner

Showing 2 responses by koestner

koestner OP
621 posts
 
Oops, seem like I forgot input impedance has to be the same also. Well that makes it a lot harder to do. Maybe I will get an integrated tube amp and adjust the volume until it sounds right on both top and bottom.

Will I really be wasting the power the upper amp makes in bass notes if the speaker's crossover blocks them, doesn't the speakers crossover create a much higher impedance at bass frequencies thereby not alowing the upper amp to waste that energy?
koestner OP
621 posts
 
Al: very helpful thanks to all here.

One question though: If the amps have 2 very different input impedances, say 20K and 60K and they have equal gain, won't the output volume be different also because of the impedance being un-equal?
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