2. amps-preamps
  3. 1039372253

Two different amps to horizontal bi amp?

I have Hales Designer Reference One speakers. They have three sets of post for speaker wire. I presently have one amp (Wingate 2000)class a amp. I have added a Sunfire signiture subwoofer to extend the lower registers but do not like the overall blending of the two. Here is my question / statement. I have an opportunity to purchase a Threshold S500 class a/b amp. I would use this to drive the woofers and use the Wingate to run the tweeter and mids. I feel the Threshold would elevate the bass performance and allow me to eliminate the sub woofer. Would this work? What kind of potential problems would or could I have?

Thanks
128x128bozo
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
The two prior posts raise excellent points. The third element that I think is relevant is that different amps can also have different audio "qualities" -- somewhat like the voices of people differing. I have bi-amped with two amps before, but I have always used amps of the same brand.
rives
953 posts
 
All of the above posts are correct and their warnings should be taken into consideration. However, I will tell you I horizontally bi-amp with Levinson Reference 20.0 (top) and Krell KMA 160 (bottom) on modified Martin Logan Monolith IIs with an external (active) cross over. It's almost impossible to use two different amps without the flexibility of an active cross over, but this combination has really worked well--it was not easy to find the right combination though due to the above mentioned concerns, but I was actually looking for slightly different amps in this application.
longho68
69 posts
 
Dr. Sean,

I'm curious as well, Is it better to have two mono block amp, two identical stereo amp that horizontally bi-amp , OR using the the
same two stereo amp in bridge mode? Thanks for your help on
this Doc.

I have 2 NAD S200 running in Horizontal bi-amp mode driving
the Sony SSM9ED and is thinking of upgrading to the pass lab
x350 or the x600 mono block someday, but I still need to learn alot about high end audio before I can spend my money wisely. I'm a new baby to the high end stuff.
foreverhifi
229 posts
 
I personally think THE ONLY THING TO CONSIDER FOR YOUR BASS AMP is the Parasound stuff!!!! Not only are those amps RENOUNED for their dynamite bass impact,speed, and weight, but they are great value, and HAVE GAIN CONTROLS ON THE BACK FOR LEVEL MATCHING!!!...something your other amps won't! why spend bigger bucks on a higher end amp that will not surpass what the very flexible, well built, super strong bass performing, excellently priced PARASOUND'S will do!?!
I was using the Threshold T200(better amp) for a long time, and it was excellent! However for a BASS amplifier, I don't see using ANY OTHER AMP on the bass woofer than the Parasound! They're dynamite for that!
Anything from the HCA1500, HCA1200,HCA2200, HCA3500, or other bridged models should be excellent!
good luck
stuartbranson
183 posts
 
If you've got the opportunity to try before buying...
From one, whose experiment in bi-amping with different amps, failed.
More to discover