Bridging? Bi-amping? or Parallel ADS 1230's

S

Squirrely

Active Member
I have ADS 1230's and two Nakamichi PA-5's. I don't have an active crossover so I am wondering how to combine my amplifiers to achieve the potential 200 watts per channel that could result. Keeping in mind that these are low impedance speakers, can I do this without an active crossover?

Can I use both positive right connects from each amp to the positive binding post on the right speaker and both negative right connects from each amp to the negative binding post on the right speaker and then to the same for the left positive and negative?

I am sure I can not use all four binding posts on each speaker unless I use an active crossover.

Any help with this is much appreciated. Thanks!
 
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AFAIK, your Nakamichis aren't configured for bridging to mono, but there's no reason you couldn't passively bi-amp your ADSs with the pair of them.

You could bi-amp your speakers Vertically, or Horizontally since the amps are (presumably) identical in output & sensitivity. No need for a separate active crossover, your speakers are designed for passive bi-amping. Here's a thread started a short while ago, about the differences in bi-wiring vs bi-amping that had good wiring diagrams showing the alternatives. Have a look, and I think you'll start to understand your options better.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=458761
 
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Thanks for your responses. I wonder if I could damage an amp if I combine the two by using the right speaker outputs of both amplifiers to the right speaker binding posts and the left speaker outputs of both amplifiers to the left speaker. I would do this using one set of binding posts on each speaker with the internal cross over engaged. I don't know if this is safe for my amplifiers.
 
My understanding is that horizontal biamping uses the two amps in mono. The Nakamichi PA-5 is stereo and not capable of mono operation. My pre amp is the Nakamichi CA-5 so I have two power outs to run each amp with the same stereo feed from the pre. What I described above is the only way I can think of combining the power of these two amps. I am not going to do it unless I know it will be safe.
 
Squirrely said:
My understanding is that horizontal biamping uses the two amps in mono. The Nakamichi PA-5 is stereo and not capable of mono operation. My pre amp is the Nakamichi CA-5 so I have two power outs to run each amp with the same stereo feed from the pre. What I described above is the only way I can think of combining the power of these two amps. I am not going to do it unless I know it will be safe.
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No. You cannot parallel amplifier outputs that way. One amplifier will end up driving the output of the other and they would probably both burn up.

Dave :music:
 
Squirrely said:
Thanks for your responses. I wonder if I could damage an amp if I combine the two by using the right speaker outputs of both amplifiers to the right speaker binding posts and the left speaker outputs of both amplifiers to the left speaker. I would do this using one set of binding posts on each speaker with the internal cross over engaged. I don't know if this is safe for my amplifiers.
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This will ABSOLUTELY damage the amplifiers.

Squirrely said:
My understanding is that horizontal biamping uses the two amps in mono. The Nakamichi PA-5 is stereo and not capable of mono operation. My pre amp is the Nakamichi CA-5 so I have two power outs to run each amp with the same stereo feed from the pre. What I described above is the only way I can think of combining the power of these two amps. I am not going to do it unless I know it will be safe.
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Your understanding of horizontal bi-amping is incorrect. With a horizontal configuration, the left channel of ONE stereo amp (call it stereo amp 1) would drive the high section of the left speaker and the right channel of that SAME stereo amp would drive the high section of the right speaker. The exact same thing is done using another stereo amplifier (call it stereo amp 2) except the left channel of amp 2 drives the low section of the left speaker and the right channel of amp 2 drives the low section of the right speaker. Until you can utilize the bi-amp capabilities of the ADS speaker with an electronic crossover I'd suggest just using one of the NAK's in a normal stereo connection config.
 
Recommendation deleted after researching Overload's reply.
I had forgotten that ADS used a switch on the back to allow for bia-amping and that the switch causes the woofers to see direct power if connected to an amp.
An external electronic crossover is needed.
Please accept my apology.

Al. Wise
 
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I should also mention that you can in fact bridge the your NAK amps essentially turning them into monoblocks however, you would need an external bridging adapter or other means to invert the signals. IMHO you would be better served spending the money on an electronic crossover and bi-amping those ADS 1230's :yes:
 
awise1961 said:
Connect the left channel output of amp "A" to one pair of input binding posts on the left speaker.
Connect the left channel output of amp "B" to the second pair of input binding posts on the left speaker.
Connect the right channel of amp "A" to one pair of input binding posts on the right speaker.
Connect the right channel of amp "B" to the second pair of input binding posts on the right speaker.
This is basic bi-amping with no electronic crossover.
There is no harm in doing this.
The harm occurs when you connect the outputs of amp "A" to amp "B" thinking that the result would be double the power to the speakers. As others have said, that would lead to disaster.

Best REgards, Al. Wise
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That is PASSIVE bi-amping where the speakers passive crossovers are simply separated in to a low frequency band and a mid-high band. With the OP's speakers in question the woofers are coupled DIRECTLY to the amp in bi-amp mode. So there IS harm in doing what you suggest.
 
Thanks guys, I knew I should post my questions before I make myself cry. I am driving Vandersteen model 3's using one amp for the mid and upper and using the other for the woofers. The Vandi's are made for this using a passive internal crossover. As you guys mentioned the ADS are not like this. Does anyone have suggestions regarding active crossovers. Who makes one that is appropriate for this application?
 
I don't have one, but I see a lot of people recommend the ones that Behringer makes. They are for pro audio, but work for home applications. Otherwise you could try to track down the original model.
 
Squirrely said:
Does anyone have suggestions regarding active crossovers. Who makes one that is appropriate for this application?
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You don't necessarily need an active. There are Harrison Labs F-Mod line filters you could use if the available values align with your needs.

Also, depends on how much of a tinkerer you are. If you like playing around with gadgets I suggest looking into the MiniDSP stuff.

If you'd like more plug and play then there's lots of options for two or three way electronic crossovers.
 
Not much of a tinkerer. I'm too much of a noob. The line filters sound interesting. If one amp is to influence the other, energy would have to move retrograde through the interconnects. I think this is what I need to prevent. It would be like putting a diode in the line.

Am I thinking straight here or did I miss the mark?
 
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