How to Bi-Amp my PSB Stratus Gold's?

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by BrewCrew82, May 5, 2016.

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  1. BrewCrew82

    BrewCrew82 The Most Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Wisconsin
    The PSB have two pair of binding posts.

    I currently have them bi-wired from my Musical Fidelity A308 integrated amplifier. The manual for the A308 states the following...

    PRE-AMPLIFIER OUTPUT
    The A308 amplifier has its pre-amplifier
    output available from RCA sockets on the
    back panel marked PRE-OUT, and is controlled
    by the volume adjustment.
    This is to allow “bi-amplification” using
    suitable external amplifiers and crossover
    networks to power the speaker drive components
    separately, giving noticeable
    improvement in clarity, imaging and bass
    weight.
    In this arrangement, typically the A308’s
    speaker outputs are used to drive the speaker’s
    “tweeter” (high audio frequencies), and
    an external stereo amplifier drives the
    “woofer” (low frequencies).
    The A308’s PRE OUT RCA sockets
    would therefore be connected to the input
    of the external “woofer” amplifier in this
    example.
    If you are in doubt about bi-amplification,
    please contact your dealer for advice.


    I also have a Parasond HCA 1500 power amplifier. So, could I use the A308 for the top binding posts and the Parasound for the bottom?

    Would I run a pair of speaker cables from the MF to the upper binding posts.....and then a pair of interconnects from the MF to the Parasound.....and then the lower post speaker cables from the Parasound to the lower posts?

    I think I have an idea of how to do this, but don't want to blow anything up.
     
  2. Jimi Floyd

    Jimi Floyd Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pisa, Italy
    No, you won't blow anything, but unless the MF power section and the Parasound have the same gain, and I don't know the figures, bass and treble would not be balanced in volume.
     
  3. BrewCrew82

    BrewCrew82 The Most Notable Member Thread Starter

    Location:
    Wisconsin
    The Parasound does have gain knobs for each channel for matching. Maybe I just start those knobs fairly low and work with it until it sounds correct?
     
  4. Jimi Floyd

    Jimi Floyd Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pisa, Italy
    That's great! go for it.
     
  5. KT88

    KT88 Senior Member

    Remove the jumpers between the HF and LF terminals first. Having gain controls on an amplifier is useful if that amplifier is the one of the two with the most gain. Otherwise, you' ll need to run that one wide open and still have at least a passive level control between the preamp output and the other amplifiers input. You can do that with some integrated amps that have no internal connection between its preamp and power amp.
    -Bill
     
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