Biamp Monitor Audio BX2 with Kenwood KRF-X9090D

[RogerHiFi]

Hello,

I would appreciate your help if you can offer some tips about how to connect the Re: equipment in that way:

I have already tried to connect the bottom connectors from the speakers to the front surround connectors on the amplifier, and the upper ones from the speakers to the front "A" connectors on the amplifier, but IN THE AMPLIFIER'S PURE "STEREO MODE", no signal is sent to the lower connectors on the speakers (the ones connected to the surround connectors on the amplifier).

I have discovered that by connecting only the lower connectors on the speaker, just to test if the sound reached the speakers.

The only way to get sound from the surround connectors is by activating some (for me) unwanted special effects like DSP, THX...

I want the equipment for music only.


I am attaching an schema of the rear connectors from this home cinema amplifier.

* Chatgpt advised me that schema, but, surprise... It did not work.
It also said that it was the method to-go, because the surround had another amplifier circuit distinct from the main one on the "A" speakers, and thus I would achieve biamp.

It did not recommend to use speaker b connectors from the amplifier because, it said, they were sharing the same amp circuit as those on speaker b, so no real biamp would be achieved...

Many thanks in advance,

Roger

 

[Messiah]

Using any of the surround connectors is not going to work for what you are trying to do as they are for surround speakers - hence why you get sound when various surround/DSP modes are activated.

Do you have the bridging/terminal plates/bars (pick a term 😀) for the speakers? If so, make sure they are in place and simply connect your speakers to Front A on the amp. Then simply enjoy the music and give no further thought to the connection,

In theory you could use the B terminal as well but it is likely sharing the same circuit as the A terminals and is debatable whether it would bring any audible difference anyway.

 

[Gray]

IN THE AMPLIFIER'S PURE "STEREO MODE", no signal is sent to the lower connectors on the speakers (the ones connected to the surround connectors on the amplifier).

You need to be sure what that Kenwood actually does in 'pure stereo' mode.
I think you're expecting it put 2 channel stereo equally to the front and a surround pair....using separate amps. Some surround amps do - but it seems yours isn't doing that.
Your user manual will (should) be specific on what pure stereo mode is on that particular model.

No good making any assumptions or doing any diagnostics unless and until you know what the thing is supposed to be doing 👍

 

[ianrjones]

I have two stereo speakers per side. What I have constructed is two seperate systems, on the same rack. The sources are connected to two amplifiers. One is for quiet listening. NAD320Bee. into two B+W CT7 lrcs, (I live in a flat over a grannie). And the main listening system is Yamaha 701. into NEAT accoustic ultimatumXLS. This works well for me, I can play into both amps into four speakers if I want, but I don't want.

 

[skinnypuppy71]

It looks like you are trying to achieve a bi-wiring set up not bi-amping( you need two power amplifier's and pre -amp for a proper bi-amped setup) as per the thread title, just hook your speakers up as normal in pure direct mode, bi-wiring has little if any at all sonic benefits.....bi-amping on the other hand can give some improvement but there's other stuff way more important than that to maximise performance from a system.

 

[PieterG]

The only way to get sound from the surround connectors is by activating some (for me) unwanted special effects like DSP, THX...

That's how it typically works.

• Pure/Direct stereo mode powers the front left and right channels. You may have the option of using the subwoofer for a 2.1 stereo configuration.
• Stereo across all speakers is usually possible - my Onkyo conveniently calls it "all channel stereo" - but it applies DSP. I can't tell what that setting does exactly with my setup, but it's very different from normal stereo.

If you want stereo sound from two pairs of speakers, i think you'll need to use a splitter that lets you safely connect two speakers per terminal. Alternatively, if your amp has a pre-out, you could add in an extra power amp with A and B speaker terminals. In both cases you'll typically have the option to use one pair of speakers, or both simultaneously.

 

[Gray]

Stereo across all speakers is usually possible - my Onkyo conveniently calls it "all channel stereo"

That's what my brother's surround amps does. It puts what we know as standard 2 channel stereo audio into more than just the 2 front speakers.

If* that's what OP Roger's surround amp is doing in its 'Pure Stereo' mode, then he will be bi-amping (not merely bi-wiring).
I think bi-amping was his intention 🤔

* That's his question.

 

[ianrjones]

If I started from scratch, and spent £15,000. I would end up with what I already have.

 

[abacus]

As you are using a Home Cinema Receiver rather than a stereo amp, most receivers allow you to reassign surround channels for bi-amp use, so go into the speaker setup menu and look for the bi-amp option. (It should also be explained in the manual)
If there is no mention of it, then it is possible that your receiver does not have that function, which means there is nothing you can do, except put the links back on the speakers and use single wiring.

Bill