Biamp with c2300 and MC501s

[audiohippo]

Hi,

Does anyone know if I can biamp with the C2300 and 4x MC501s?

Run XLR from C2300 "1" and "2" rear outputs to the MC501s then to speakers.

Do I just select "output 1 and 2" on the front panel? Can they both be selected at the same time?

Thanks

[GaryProtein]

You won't get a good result unless you get an active crossover.

You can use the main output of your C2300 going to the crossover and the crossover will have outputs to the two pair of power amps.

You can use any output on the C2300 going to the crossover, but you need a crossover between the preamp and power amps.

If you aren't willing to get an active crossover and snip a wire or two in your speaker's passive crossover, you will be better off just getting a bigger amplifier.

[audiohippo]

The speaker has two sets of binding posts, 1 for Tweeter/midrange and another for the woofers.

Can I select Output 1 and 2 at the same time on the front panel and the signal will be output to the rear outlet Main/1/2 XLRs?

[GaryProtein]

Originally Posted by audiohippo

The speaker has two sets of binding posts, 1 for Tweeter/midrange and another for the woofers.

Can I select Output 1 and 2 at the same time on the front panel and the signal will be output to the rear outlet Main/1/2 XLRs?

Yes, you can use any or all outputs on the C2300.

The problem is your amplifiers will still be playing full range and your speakers will just be wasting the power NOT going to the respective woofers or midrange/tweeters.

If you need to buy two more MC501's to have four of them to do your project, I would sell the two you have and buy a pair of bigger amps and just wire them conventionally. That way you will use all the power the amps are producing.

[GaryProtein]

From the 802 owners manual: I got it off the B&W website.

Note: Bi-wiring separates the signal paths to each section of the speaker and can improve both stereo imaging and detail resolution. It also enables the use of different types of cable for each frequency band.

Bi-amplification goes a stage further and involves the use of two independent power amplifier channels for each speaker. This is not the same as a fully “active” drive as the speaker's internal passive crossover is still used. If bi-amplification is employed, ensure that each amplifier channel has the same gain, otherwise the speaker’s tonal balance will be distorted.

Check also the absolute polarity of the amplifiers. Some amplifiers invert the signal, and their use in combination with non-inverting types will result in a distorted frequency response. If you have a mixture of inverting and non-inverting amplifiers, reverse the polarity of the speaker connections from the inverting amplifier.

Bear in mind that, even though midrange and, even more so, tweeter drivers can (and only need to) handle less continuous power than bass drivers, the amplifier feeding them needs to have an adequate voltage swing in order to supply the short-term high-frequency peaks in music without distortion. A high voltage capability implies high power, so it is not particularly desirable to have a lower powered amplifier feeding the midrange and tweeter than is used for bass drivers.

The bi-wiring statement in the first paragraph is bullcrap--a lie. Bi-wiring is solely a way the dealer can sell you more cables.

The last paragraph is true. That is why I said to sell your present amps and buy a pair of bigger amps.

[audiohippo]

Using a single speaker did some A/B testing. It was really hard to pick a difference at low and high volume.

[GaryProtein]

After running your tests, are you closer to making a decision on how to set up your system?

I still think you would be best off getting bigger power amps rather than buying another pair of 501's to bi-amp if it isn't in your heart to buy an active crossover and make wiring changes to your speaker's internal crossovers.

[djwhog]

Bigger amps and instead of biamp do a biwire setup is my 2 cents

sell the 501s, get into a 601 or if you must a 1.2k


PS the 601 are close to 800 watts real power.

[427]

Let me just ask this Why?

What do you feel your missing?

[427]

Originally Posted by audiohippo

The speaker has two sets of binding posts, 1 for Tweeter/midrange and another for the woofers.

Can I select Output 1 and 2 at the same time on the front panel and the signal will be output to the rear outlet Main/1/2 XLRs?

Main stays on all the time

1&2 are switchable with one or both on at a time.

So you can all three on at once if you want.