High/Low Frequency Amplifiers

[news]

I am looking at bi-amping my speakers with an external crossover using 4
amplifiers. Two for low frequency and the other two for high frequency.

Want some opinions as to what are good dedicated low and high frequency
amplifiers?

Speakers are 6ohm's and lower and require 200w continuos to 800w peak of
power to run.

Cheers
Mark

[Michael McKelvy]

"news" > wrote in message
u...
> I am looking at bi-amping my speakers with an external crossover using 4
> amplifiers. Two for low frequency and the other two for high frequency.
>
> Want some opinions as to what are good dedicated low and high frequency
> amplifiers?
>
> Speakers are 6ohm's and lower and require 200w continuos to 800w peak of
> power to run.
>
> Cheers
> Mark
>
I assume you mean they can handle those power rating not that they actually
require 200 or 800 Watts.

try www.adireaudio.com they hace plate amps that can be built into your
speakers and have crossovers as well.

[news]

Correct.

I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch @20/20
minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch @20/20.

I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I intend to
buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency but it is a
matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s) that will match the
208's.

In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a total
disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both amps and try
and get them as close as possible.

I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way to go.
I've heard that a lot of people hav success with this but then I am worried
about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.

"Michael McKelvy" > wrote in message
...
>
> "news" > wrote in message
> u...
> > I am looking at bi-amping my speakers with an external crossover using 4
> > amplifiers. Two for low frequency and the other two for high frequency.
> >
> > Want some opinions as to what are good dedicated low and high frequency
> > amplifiers?
> >
> > Speakers are 6ohm's and lower and require 200w continuos to 800w peak of
> > power to run.
> >
> > Cheers
> > Mark
> >
> I assume you mean they can handle those power rating not that they
actually
> require 200 or 800 Watts.
>
> try www.adireaudio.com they hace plate amps that can be built into your
> speakers and have crossovers as well.
>
>

[citronzx]

"news" > wrote in message
u...
> Correct.
>
> I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch
@20/20
> minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch @20/20.
>
> I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I intend to
> buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency but it is a
> matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s) that will match
the
> 208's.
>
> In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a total
> disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both amps and
try
> and get them as close as possible.
>
> I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way to
go.
> I've heard that a lot of people hav success with this but then I am
worried
> about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.
>
> "Michael McKelvy" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > "news" > wrote in message
> > u...
> > > I am looking at bi-amping my speakers with an external crossover using
4
> > > amplifiers. Two for low frequency and the other two for high
frequency.
> > >
> > > Want some opinions as to what are good dedicated low and high
frequency
> > > amplifiers?
> > >
> > > Speakers are 6ohm's and lower and require 200w continuos to 800w peak
of
> > > power to run.
> > >
> > > Cheers
> > > Mark
> > >
> > I assume you mean they can handle those power rating not that they
> actually
> > require 200 or 800 Watts.
> >
> > try www.adireaudio.com they hace plate amps that can be built into your
> > speakers and have crossovers as well.
> >
> >
>
>

Is the external crossover before or after the amplifiers? If it is before
then you do not need anywhere near that much power. Why not just get a
quality multichannel amp? There are a ton to pick from.

[news]

The external crossover is between the pre and power amplifiers.

The crossover requires a minimum of two amplifiers to run up to a max of 4
amps.

I will experiment on two amps first to see what results I get.

"citronzx" > wrote in message
nk.net...
>
> "news" > wrote in message
> u...
> > Correct.
> >
> > I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch
> @20/20
> > minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch @20/20.
> >
> > I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I intend
to
> > buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency but it is a
> > matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s) that will match
> the
> > 208's.
> >
> > In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a total
> > disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both amps and
> try
> > and get them as close as possible.
> >
> > I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way to
> go.
> > I've heard that a lot of people hav success with this but then I am
> worried
> > about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.
> >
> > "Michael McKelvy" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > >
> > > "news" > wrote in message
> > > u...
> > > > I am looking at bi-amping my speakers with an external crossover
using
> 4
> > > > amplifiers. Two for low frequency and the other two for high
> frequency.
> > > >
> > > > Want some opinions as to what are good dedicated low and high
> frequency
> > > > amplifiers?
> > > >
> > > > Speakers are 6ohm's and lower and require 200w continuos to 800w
peak
> of
> > > > power to run.
> > > >
> > > > Cheers
> > > > Mark
> > > >
> > > I assume you mean they can handle those power rating not that they
> > actually
> > > require 200 or 800 Watts.
> > >
> > > try www.adireaudio.com they hace plate amps that can be built into
your
> > > speakers and have crossovers as well.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
> Is the external crossover before or after the amplifiers? If it is before
> then you do not need anywhere near that much power. Why not just get a
> quality multichannel amp? There are a ton to pick from.
>
>

[Arny Krueger]

"news" > wrote in message
u

> I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch
> @20/20 minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch
> @20/20.

You might want to look at the kind of equipment used by people who do this
sort of thing all day long - pro audio amps. Good brands are QSC, Crown and
Hafler.

> I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I
> intend to buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency
> but it is a matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s)
> that will match the 208's.

An audio amp that performs badly in either application would be a
technically incompetent product.

Another NAD might be a good choice.

> In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a
> total disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both
> amps and try and get them as close as possible.

Not necessarily. you're going to use these amps with an external line-level
crossover, and it can compensate for differences in the sensitivity of the
amps.

Using a low-level crossover has advantages and disadvantages depending on
the details of the application and the music you are playing. Usually this
approach is used with at the highest power and performance levels, for
economic reasons, if nothing else.

Here's a good crossover that I was looking at last week. The folks who were
evaluating it more formally are very expert and demanding, but seem to
remain very impressed with it. It is a heck of a value and offers a lot of
speaker performance-enhancing features:

"DCX2496 Ultra-Drive Pro Digital Crossover System"

> I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way
> to go.

Price 150 wpc tubed power amps and you might think twice.

>I've heard that a lot of people have success with this but then
> I am worried about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.

I've seen tubed amps used this way at power levels that are more reasonable
for tubed amps, like 30-40 wpc. TME there are no special crises if the tubed
amp is a good one, and no special blessings either.

[news]

Thanks for the reply Arny.

I have two JBL DX-1 low-level external crossovers. I only need one DX-1 to
actually run a pair of speakers but I have bought two and using one DX-1 per
side. I suppose I am fanatical in that I want a piece of equipment to do
one thing only.

The DX-1's will be used to run a pair of JBL XPL-200 speakers. This and the
DX-1 a lot of people are not familiar with but have have been made to
supplement each other.

I might look into hafler amps but I'll look at other amps as well. I was
also thinking along the lines of Classe and Bel Canto's Digital amp but that
means a lof of money.

I'm happy to start of with cheaper but good power amps and then work my way
up until I'm happy with my line-up.
"Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
...
> "news" > wrote in message
> u
>
> > I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch
> > @20/20 minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch
> > @20/20.
>
> You might want to look at the kind of equipment used by people who do this
> sort of thing all day long - pro audio amps. Good brands are QSC, Crown
and
> Hafler.
>
> > I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I
> > intend to buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency
> > but it is a matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s)
> > that will match the 208's.
>
> An audio amp that performs badly in either application would be a
> technically incompetent product.
>
> Another NAD might be a good choice.
>
> > In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a
> > total disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both
> > amps and try and get them as close as possible.
>
> Not necessarily. you're going to use these amps with an external
line-level
> crossover, and it can compensate for differences in the sensitivity of the
> amps.
>
> Using a low-level crossover has advantages and disadvantages depending on
> the details of the application and the music you are playing. Usually this
> approach is used with at the highest power and performance levels, for
> economic reasons, if nothing else.
>
> Here's a good crossover that I was looking at last week. The folks who
were
> evaluating it more formally are very expert and demanding, but seem to
> remain very impressed with it. It is a heck of a value and offers a lot of
> speaker performance-enhancing features:
>
> "DCX2496 Ultra-Drive Pro Digital Crossover System"
>
> > I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way
> > to go.
>
> Price 150 wpc tubed power amps and you might think twice.
>
> >I've heard that a lot of people have success with this but then
> > I am worried about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.
>
> I've seen tubed amps used this way at power levels that are more
reasonable
> for tubed amps, like 30-40 wpc. TME there are no special crises if the
tubed
> amp is a good one, and no special blessings either.
>
>
>

[citronzx]

"news" > wrote in message
u...
> Thanks for the reply Arny.
>
> I have two JBL DX-1 low-level external crossovers. I only need one DX-1
to
> actually run a pair of speakers but I have bought two and using one DX-1
per
> side. I suppose I am fanatical in that I want a piece of equipment to do
> one thing only.
>
> The DX-1's will be used to run a pair of JBL XPL-200 speakers. This and
the
> DX-1 a lot of people are not familiar with but have have been made to
> supplement each other.
>
> I might look into hafler amps but I'll look at other amps as well. I was
> also thinking along the lines of Classe and Bel Canto's Digital amp but
that
> means a lof of money.
>
> I'm happy to start of with cheaper but good power amps and then work my
way
> up until I'm happy with my line-up.
> "Arny Krueger" > wrote in message
> ...
> > "news" > wrote in message
> > u
> >
> > > I would be looking at a low Frequency amp that will do about 250w/ch
> > > @20/20 minumum and the high frequency amp would be around 150w/ch
> > > @20/20.
> >
> > You might want to look at the kind of equipment used by people who do
this
> > sort of thing all day long - pro audio amps. Good brands are QSC, Crown
> and
> > Hafler.
> >
> > > I have a NAD 208THX, which I am using to run both speakers but I
> > > intend to buy another 208THX and use them both for the low frequency
> > > but it is a matter of looking for a real nice high frequency amp(s)
> > > that will match the 208's.
> >
> > An audio amp that performs badly in either application would be a
> > technically incompetent product.
> >
> > Another NAD might be a good choice.
> >
> > > In hindsight, getting to run two different amps together can be a
> > > total disaster but you would really need to look at the specs of both
> > > amps and try and get them as close as possible.
> >
> > Not necessarily. you're going to use these amps with an external
> line-level
> > crossover, and it can compensate for differences in the sensitivity of
the
> > amps.
> >
> > Using a low-level crossover has advantages and disadvantages depending
on
> > the details of the application and the music you are playing. Usually
this
> > approach is used with at the highest power and performance levels, for
> > economic reasons, if nothing else.
> >
> > Here's a good crossover that I was looking at last week. The folks who
> were
> > evaluating it more formally are very expert and demanding, but seem to
> > remain very impressed with it. It is a heck of a value and offers a lot
of
> > speaker performance-enhancing features:
> >
> > "DCX2496 Ultra-Drive Pro Digital Crossover System"
> >
> > > I am interested in whether valve high frequency amps might be the way
> > > to go.
> >
> > Price 150 wpc tubed power amps and you might think twice.
> >
> > >I've heard that a lot of people have success with this but then
> > > I am worried about phase problems running a valve with a sold state.
> >
> > I've seen tubed amps used this way at power levels that are more
> reasonable
> > for tubed amps, like 30-40 wpc. TME there are no special crises if the
> tubed
> > amp is a good one, and no special blessings either.
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Is this a setup that you are planning to use in your home or is it a
traveling setup. If this is for home I don't see the need for the extra
rugged pro amps.