active crossover freqncy for Totem Mani2

Thanks Timlub.

Totem doesn't recommend the use of external crossovers for optimal performance.

Totem also mentioned if I wish to bi-amp they recommend doing it passively and letting the crossover use the natural filters.

I don't really know what that means and also my amplifier does not support bi-amp of bridge mode. What I should do?

It's not clear if the reason you want to use an external crossover is for the purpose of biamping. If it's not, I can't imagine you could improve on the performance over Totem's internal crossover.

If you want to bi amp speakers you need 2 stereo amps (or 4 mono amps, or one 4 channel amp). I suggest you do some research on bi amping - there are plenty of threads in the archives on this.

Passive bi amping simply connects one amp channel to the woofer posts, another to the tweeter posts. The internal crossover handles the filtering. There are 2 ways to do this - 1) Vertical bi amp places 2 identical amps on each speaker - the preamp signal is split to each channel, and one channel powers the tweeter, the other the woofer. 2) Horizontal bi amping can use non-identical amps but they need to have a volume pot so you can ensure volume is balanced. In this configuration, one amp (the highest power amp) powers the woofer, the other powers the tweeter.

Be SURE that you remove the jumpers that connect the hi/lo binding posts.

If you want more advice - it would help if you post more info about the amps you're using and exactly what you are striving for . . .

Hi Bdgregory,

You are right on, the purpose is indeed to bi-amp with two Accuphase P-102 stereo amps. The reason is that the P-102 do not support bridge mono mode.

I understand Totem is suggesting to use passive horizontal bi-amping but I am confused as how to achieve it (by using a Y adapter?) and how would that imply on the load average between the two P-102s.

I guess my question is, #1 if there is a way to load balance two stereo amplifiers evenly and to achieve maximum return on bi-amping and #2 would an active crossover benefit and how do I determine the crossover frequencies to get for the Mani-2.

If you have experience on actively bi-amping the Mani-2 with frequencies dividers like the Accuphase F-25, please educate me :)

Thanks.

If you can find out the crossover frequency of the Mani-2's you can come close, i'm not sure how good it would be. you would need to put your F25 behind your preamp, find the crossover frequency of the Mani-2's run your F-25 out to your amps, probably around 2K (you will need this frequency).
I looked at a frequency chart online for the Mani-2's, they appear to be using LR4 slopes. The Accuphase uses Gaussian, so right off the bat, you will have a passive network using one type crossover slope and an electronic using another. If you really want to do this, I recommend that you just get the drivers, make your own boxes without crossover units and use the Accuphase equipment. The Forest Drivers are available, I have impedence curves for them, you would need to put a compensation network inline with no filters, then you can use the Accuphase stuff, the results would be outstanding. Really what you are trying to do is possible, but impractical.

Duh, I looked at the frequency chart online??.. I went back, it is higher than I expected, the chart is small, somewhere between 3K & 3.2K.