|
Member System Forum System Pictures and Descriptions |
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
||||
|
||||
Hybrid Bi-amping for 2023
Back in early 2020 I revamped my old Dynaco tube amps with the VTA mods from Tubes4Hifi, and wired them in a vertical bi-amp configuration using two stereo amps. The VTA mods and bi-amping took the system to another level, and I was pretty happy. After hearing the Magico S5 MkIIs at Convergent Audio, i started to think the bass didn't have quite the control and slam that it could.
Sometime in March 2023 the system got reconfigured again, but this time into a tube/solid state hybrid horizontal bi-amp setup. I see it as the best of both worlds. Each amp type doing what it does best. It helps that each driver of my 3-way speakers has it's own input, so are fairly conducive to bi-wiring, bi-amping, or tri-amping. The twin stereo Dyna/VTA 70 tube amps got solid state rectifiers, are sporting new Tung Sol 7581A output tubes in triode, and are now run as single channel mono blocks, which still leaves me with the outstanding separation offered by vertical bi-amping. They're only powering the 5" midbass and tweeter now (which have a natural acoustic rolloff at about 80hz). The tube amps now see an easier to drive 8 ohm load (vs 4 ohm) and lighter woofers...they sounded notably clearer immediately. (a pleasant, but unexpected side effect!) The solid state amp is a vintage Kenwood KA-3500 integrated amp that only drives the main 8 inch woofers from 80hz down. (It also feeds the active subwoofer with a high level signal). A couple of months after experimenting with this I added an active low pass crossover ~ 80hz, then bypassed the passive low pass crossover to the woofers. Yep, there's more bass control and slam, and it really lets the transmission line shine. The signal from the preamp gets split between the tube amps and the SS integrated amp. This configuration treats the Lazarus preamplfier as a master volume for all the amps, while the integrated amp has it's own volume control for everything below 80hz. I can vary the output of the woofers and sub separately relative to each other, and relative to the tube amps that feed the midbass/tweeters. In addition, the active crossover has it's own gain settings, so there's lots of flexibility to dial in low frequencies however I want, and not impact the vocals of the midbass driver. Some new copper inputs for the mids and tweeters, new Furutech OCC cables, and a new phono stage round out 2023 as a successful year of fairly aggressive upgrades for relatively low cost. The system is all coming together nicely just in time to enjoy a wonderful Christmas music season. All in all the changes have resulted in easily audible improvements on multiple levels IMHO. Overall clarity is better, and bass is notably tighter and more dynamic, and provides the ability to fine tune bass output. Cost for used the integrated amp and active crossover were under $100 (way less than new tubes!). I'm extremely happy with this setup, and am glad that I went down this path. Horizontal bi-amp layout.jpg IMG_1718b.jpg IMG_1715.jpg
__________________
Nuance can be tough to measure, but easy to appreciate... Last edited by knotscott; 12-15-2023 at 09:03 AM. Reason: Enlarge and embed photo |
#2
|
||||
|
||||
Nicely done, thanks for sharing!
__________________
Ivan FLORIDA MX136, MC1.2KW(10) MC2KW(2), MCD1100, MS750(2) MVP881, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, HT-2 SUBS(2) HT3F(2) WS350(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) XCS350(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" MOTORIZED SCREEN, CINEMA-TECH SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: ACCUPHASE A300 AMPS, C3900 PRE-AMP, DP1000 CD/SACD TRANSPORT, DC1000 DIGITAL PROCESSOR, DG-68 DIGITAL EQUALIZER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, PS1230 POWER SUPPLY, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, WW PLATINUM CABLES CAPE COD MX150, MC501(2) MC1.2KW(10) MC2301(2) MR88, MVP881, MCD1100, MDA1000, C1000C/P/T, MPC1500, ESOTERIC K-01X 30th ANNIVERSARY (BLACK) SACD/CD PLAYER, G02-X CLOCK, HT3F(2) XRT2K, XCS2K, XR27(2) JL GOTHAM v2 SUBS(2) JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(4) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) KALEIDESCAPE STRATO & TERRA SERVERS 80-TB, LUMAGEN RADIANCE SCALER, SONY VPH-G90U 4K PROJECTOR, STEWART 120" SCREEN, SONUS FABER STRADIVARI, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, FORTRESS SEATING, WW PLATINUM CABLES Analog Rig: CLEARAUDIO INNOVATION WOOD, UNIVERSAL ARM w/ Da VINCI' CART, 2nd UNIVERSAL ARM w/ GOLDFINGER STATEMENT CART, HRS-MXR REFERENCE RACK-GLOSS BLACK w/ M3X SHELVES, AESTHETIX RHEA SIG PHONO-PRE, BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, WW PLATINUM CABLES Reference System: BURMESTER 911MK3 AMP(3), 088 PRE-AMP, 089 CD PLAYER, 100 PHONO PRE-AMP, 948 POWER CONDITIONER, ACCUPHASE DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, AVID ACUTUS REFERENCE SP TT, GRAHAM PHANTOM II SUPREME ARM, BENZ MICRO LP-S CART, GRANDIOSO P1X/D1X STACK, G1X RUBIDIUM MASTER CLOCK, N05 NETWORK PLAYER, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS-SXR CUSTOM RACK w/ M3X SHELVES, SONUS FABER AIDA SPEAKERS, JL FATHOM F113v2 SUBS(2) SOUND ANCHOR STANDS(2) WW PLATINUM CABLES Library System: GRANDIOSO M1 MONOBLOCK AMPS, C1 LINESTAGE PRE-AMP, K1X CD/SACD PLAYER, G1 MASTER RUBIDIUM CLOCK, E02 PHONO-PRE, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, AERIAL ACOUSTICS 20T V2, AERIAL SW12 SUBS(2), CANTON REF K1’s, VPI HRX TT w/ SDS POWER SUPPLY, ORTOFON CADENZA BLACK CART, KLAUDIO RCM, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2, SHUNYATA OMEGA QR’s, WW PLATINUM CABLES Esoteric/Bryston System: ESOTERIC C02-X PRE-AMP, P-02X TRANSPORT, D02-X DAC, G02-X CLOCK, BRYSTON 28B3 CUBED MONOBLOCK AMPS(4), BRYSTON BHA-1 HEADPHONE AMP, SHUNYATA DENALI 6000/S v2(2) EVEREST 8000 POWER CONDITIONER(2) ALTAIRA CG & SG HUBS, AMR-DP777-SE DAC, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, TAD REFERENCE ONE MK2 LOUDSPEAKERS, QUADRASPIRE RACK, WW PLATINUM CABLES Accuphase/Canton System: ACCUPHASE E800 INTEGRATED, DP570 CD/SACD PLAYER, T1200 FM STEREO TUNER, DG-68 VOICING EQUALIZER, PS530 POWER SUPPLY, CANTON REF K3’s, CANTON REF K5’s, SILENZIO MUSIC SERVER, HRS MXR REFERENCE MAHOGHANY RACK w/ M3X2 SHELVES, WW GOLD CABLES |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
knotscott, I don't know enough about the speakers or your gear to say anything other that your system seems extremely well thought out and the cabinet is beautiful. I have a soft spot for well made wooden cabinets. If your system is competitive with the Magico S5 MKII system, and it sounds like it is, then you must have a very fine sounding system. Your room is beautiful and inviting.
Best Chalres
__________________
__________________________________________ Charles Updated System: Wilson McIntosh Audioquest Amps: McIntosh MC3500MKII (2); McIntosh MC1.25KW (2); MC2.1KW An (1) Preamp: C-12000 An Sources: MCD12000 An; MVP881; MVP851; MR87; Marantz 510LV; ASUS laptop Speakers: Wilson Audio Specialties Chronosonic XVX Sub-woofer: Wilson Audio Specialties Thor’s Hammer (1); Wilson ActivXO Stereo Electronic Crossover Cables main system: Audioquest WEL Signature speaker cables; balanced IC (preamp to main amps); WEL Signature digital coaxial cable for MVP 881/MCD12000; Audioquest Diamond optical (1) for tuner, (1) for MVP 851 DVD player, and (1) for LD player for total of (3); Audioquest Diamond USB cable; Dragon power cords (5 HC cords and 3 source cords for total of 8); Thunder HC power cord for MR87 tuner Cables subwoofer system: Audioquest Redwood speaker cable (1); Wolf balanced subwoofer IC; Wind balanced IC from preamp to ActivXO; Hurricane HC (3); Hurricane Source (1); Dragon HC (1) power cords Power conditioners: Audioquest Niagara 7000 (1) and Niagara 5000 (3); (4) dedicated 20-amp lines. Isolation: Wilson Pedestals; Bassocontinuo McIntosh Ultra Feet; X-material plinth Cabinet: Double Custom Woodwork & Design (CWD) Acoustic Treatments: Room and Echo Tunes |
#4
|
||||
|
||||
Quote:
The system sounds really good to me... better than it ever has, and it's sounded good for a while IMO. The speakers are a transmission line design with Focal kevlar woofers/mid, and a modified Seas aluminum dome with 2nd order passive crossovers between the mids/tweeters that use top notch quality parts (CAT caps, Litz wire inductors, Dale non-inductive resistors, wired with Kimber Kable). I think it'd be a bit of wishful thinking to consider it at a level with the CAT/Magico system, but it's not bad.... more than good enough to meet my needs, and I'm pretty happy with how it sounds. I'd say it sounds "see through".
__________________
Nuance can be tough to measure, but easy to appreciate... |
|
|
Audio Aficionado Sponsors | |