22
Biamplification
In contrast to bridged operation (wherein two amplifier channels are “fooled”
into behaving as a single, larger channel), biamplification makes use of two chan-
nels to drive
different portions
of a single loudspeaker. As with bridging, it offers a
modular way of increasing the overall performance of your system (if your loud-
speakers support biamplification).
Since each channel of the amplifier is delivering current into its load only over a
limited range of frequencies (typically bass
vs.
mids and treble), several forms of
distortion may be reduced as compared to each channel handling the full range
of musical information. For this reason, many loudspeaker companies are design-
ing their products to include multiple speaker inputs (since using multiple ampli-
fiers improves the performance of their products as well). Another common use
of biamplification involves adding a subwoofer (along with an appropriate elec-
tronic crossover) to supplement and/or improve the deep bass performance of
your system.
Always refer to the specific directions provided by your loudspeaker manufacturer
prior to setting up a biamplified speaker system. Any instructions contained
herein cannot be substituted for those that are specific to the loudspeaker in
question. In general, however, biamping is done in one of two ways:
active
biam-
plification, or
passive
biamplification.
Active biamping refers to the presence of an “active” electronic crossover that di-
vides the music into two (or sometimes more) bands of frequencies. These are
then forwarded to separate power amplifiers, and sent on directly to the appro-
priate drivers in the speakers. The most common application of this approach is
the use of a subwoofer crossover to separate the deep bass (below, say, 80 Hz)
from the rest of the program material. It is then amplified separately and sent to a
dedicated subwoofer designed to handle those extremely low frequencies.
Apart from adding a subwoofer, the next most common form of biamping (called
passive
biamplification) involves merely using a conventional “Y-adapter” (either
balanced or single-ended) to provide a full range signal to two channels.
Balanced Y-adapter
2 1
3
1 2
3
1 2
3
Female XLR Input
Pin 1: signal ground
Pin 2: (non-inverting)
Pin 3: signal – (inverting)
Male XLR Output
Pin 1: signal ground
Pin 2: (non-inverting)
Pin 3: signal – (inverting)
Male XLR Output
Pin 1: signal ground
Pin 2: (non-inverting)
Pin 3: signal – (inverting)
