Adding a 2nd AV amp to bi-amp

[admin_exported]

Has anyone ever tried adding a 2nd AV amp to provide bi-amping and/or new features?

I have a Pioneer VSX-LX52 (very nice amp), but feel sure that bi-amping my B&Ws (P4 / HTM61 / 685) would improve things. To top it all off, Pioneer have unveiled the LX53 - PLIIz, HDMI 1.4, iControlAV, DLNA, ... argh! How jealous am I?

But then it occurred to me that I could potentially bi-amp my speakers using my LX52 and a shiny new LX53. The LX53 would be my processor (so that I get HDMI 1.4, PLIIz, etc), and would also send the sound to the LX52 via pre-outs / multi-ch in...

Am I mad? Would I hear a big difference from my current system? Or should I just upgrade my amp to something more powerful?

Neil.

 

[Anonymous]

Surely someone has an opinion on this?

I remember biamping some Tannoy 605LEs with 2 Rotel '930 amps did wonders for their sound - does the same premise hold weight with AV systems?

Neil.

 

[chelstondave]

Hi Neil

I have a Sony DA3500ES and on this if you have a 5.1 system you can specify that the rear surround outputs are to go to the front speakers in bi-amp mode. Have done this on my speakers (castle severn 2s) and it seems to work tho I can't be sure the sound quality is that better. Have looked at your pioneer amp online and it may be that you can do something similar.

 

[Dave_]

Why not either A) Use the rear channels to bi-amp the fronts;if your running 5.1 set up, or B) sell the LX 52,and add the extra funds to buying a higher spec'd amp.

Using two A/V receivers,just to bi-amp seems a waste to me... And probaly a whole load of haasle to set-up!

 

[Anonymous]

Hi,

chelstondave:
Hi Neil

I have a Sony DA3500ES and on this if you have a 5.1 system you can specify that the rear surround outputs are to go to the front speakers in bi-amp mode.

Thanks for the response. The Pioneer will let me biamp the front L+R, but not the centre...

But one of the main reasons I was considering the new AV amp was that it offers Pro-Logic IIz ("front height" speakers in particular) - because I am using floorstanders at the front, and the centre speaker is below the projector screen, dialogue sounds as though it is coming from below the picture!

If I added the LX53 to my LX52, I thought that I could biamp L+R+C, _and_ add the front height speakers (and gain all the frills from the new amp, 3d support, etc)... It seems as though I might be better off buying one of the better-specced Pioneer amps later this year (assuming they include additional amp sections for the PLIIz, rather than just using surround-rears)

Thanks anyway!

Neil.

 

[Sorreltiger]

The dialogue will still come from the centre speaker as the "front height" speakers are for ambient effects only. I'm with the others who've offered advice already. Put your hard-earned cash into a new SINGLE better quality AV amp. Trying to integrate two sounds like a recipe for disaster.

 

[Anonymous]

It is probably not that worth it to have all speakers bu amped, as the centre deals mainly with dialogue and the rears with ambiance, but if you really want to spend, then tou will be better off buying s higher spec amp and sell the present one......IMO