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Experimenting with Bi - amping


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Posted (edited)

The SMSL amp is only 20 watts but it’s powering the tweeters. I turn it up all the way, then lower the 50 watt amp powering the woofers to get a balance. I guess it’s working as I don’t hear distortion yet. Is this safe to try?

Edited by olds1959special
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1 hour ago, olds1959special said:

The SMSL amp is only 20 watts but it’s powering the tweeters. I turn it up all the way, then lower the 50 watt amp powering the woofers to get a balance. I guess it’s working as I don’t hear distortion yet. Is this safe to try?

It's certainly not an optimal/ideal way to power these speakers  but if nothing has blown up yet then you have answered your own question about whether it's safe to try..

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Hmm. Well the SMSL amp is a very good amp in my experience and is working well to power the tweeters. Now I’m trying the Linn Klout for the lows and the SMSL for the highs - utilizing a passive preamp to control the volume of the Klout. 

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Posted (edited)

I think it’s working so well because the tweeters must be more efficient than the woofers. The digital amp has a detailed airy sound and although is only 20 watts seems to be working as long as I attenuate the volume of the Klout a little. I honestly think it’s pretty good sounding and is a very unique sound to my ears, I’ve never heard my speakers in this way. The highs are very open and detailed I think. 

Edited by olds1959special
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The Class D amp gave me listener fatigue so I switched to a Hafler DH-120 for the midrange / treble and kept the Linn Klout for bass but added a passive attenuator to reduce the volume so they can be matched. I’m happy with this sound and no listener fatigue.

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Posted (edited)

I’m returning my SMSL A100 to Amazon! I found a Rotel RB-1050 and couldn’t be happier now. The search is over, for real this time! I’m using the Hafler DH-120 for the midrange/treble and the Rotel for the bass.

IMG_2362.jpeg

Edited by olds1959special
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