Need advice please...

[Tama2112]

I currently have a Pioneer elite sclx 904 av receiver. Ok. I am currently using 2 identical Anthem mca225 power amps being fed from the front preamp outputs on the Pioneer that are powering a pair of B&W bookshelf speakers. One amp on each speaker. I'm using an rca Y splitter on the front left preout and another rca Y splitter from the front right preout, so I guess you could say by using these Y splitters the signal from the preouts are " split". Also have a powered subwoofer hooked to the Pioneer receiver. I recently acquired an NAD preamp that does not have a sub out ( like the Pioneer does). NAD only has one left and one right preout. If I hook the Anthem amps up the same way I did to the Pioneer by using the Y splitters then I cant hook my sub to the NAD because there are no more preouts and no dedicated sub out. Correct?? I want to use the NAD but don't want to lose my sub. Thank you.

 

[staticV3]

Hi @Tama2112! Welcome to ASR.

Theoretically, you can hook many different Amps up to a single Line out using a bunch of Y-split cables.

In practice, each Amp you add to the Line out will load it down more and more, eventually resulting in voltage drop and increased distortion due to poor damping factor.

Still, connecting just the subwoofer and power amp to the NAD's Line out should be just fine.

One disadvantage is that you'll lose the ability to high-pass your B&Ws.
Instead, you'll have to play them full-range and rely purely on the subwoofer's built-in controls for integration.

Btw, the thread below may give some insight into the usefulness of employing one stereo Amp per speaker:

Bi-amping 101

This article provides a quick look at how bi-amplification works. The conventional scheme is to split the signal into two frequency bands before the power amplifiers that drive the speakers. The bass (LF) amp sees only LF signals and drives only the LF driver (woofer). The treble (HF) amp sees...

www.audiosciencereview.com

 

[Tama2112]

As it now I have one amp feeding each speaker; would this be called "vertical " biamping? Should I be biamping a different way?

 

[staticV3]

As it now I have one amp feeding each speaker; would this be called "vertical " biamping? Should I be biamping a different way?

What you're doing is called passive biamping, which the analysis above unveils is entirely pointless and as such a total waste of money and resources.

Actual gains via biamping can be had only by moving the speaker crossovers upstream of the Amps, but that's a difficult process.

Simply removing your speaker's input terminal bridge and doubling up on Amps and speaker cables achieves nothing more than lining the pockets of Amp and cable manufacturers.

 

[Tama2112]

Thank you for the advice.