triamping - with different amps?

[chrisg]

I've never run a multi-way active system before. Is is possible to combine amps with different power ratings? I was thinking of some old adcom into the base, maybe some tubes or a gainclone on the mids, and a trends audio t amp on the highs. Whatever the configuration - is adjusting the levels a big problem, or can the dcx2496 handle that?

[curt_c]

This is one of the advantages of bi/tri amping. You get to choose the 'best' amp for each section.
You will need some sort of standard to set the gains of each amp. -A known flat reference system for instance, or ideally a measurement system.
-Watch your phase for reversals. Not all amps preserve absolute polarity from input to output.

C

[Andy_G]

Provided Link: Gumby ! (http://members.optusnet.com.au/~gradds55/ARGOS/Gumby.htm)


> I've never run a multi-way active system
> before. Is is possible to combine amps with
> different power ratings? I was thinking of
> some old adcom into the base, maybe some
> tubes or a gainclone on the mids, and a
> trends audio t amp on the highs. Whatever
> the configuration - is adjusting the levels
> a big problem, or can the dcx2496 handle
> that?

You bet you. ! This is the way to go in a big speaker system
Choose something sweet and nice for the mid/tweeter section, as you suggest tubes might be the go. I'm not sure I would use a separate amp for the tweeter, but I guess that is dependant on the mid and tweeter drivers and the style of passive x-o you would need.
For the bass, do as you suggest and use a grunty sand amp.
I use this set-up on "Gumby" and it works very well and I can easily adjust the bass level if the sound source warrants it just by altering the bass amp.

[chrisg]

Thanks Curt, sounds good. Given I have some kind of reference, can the Behringer handle adjusting the different levels or do I need something else for that?

> This is one of the advantages of bi/tri
> amping. You get to choose the 'best' amp for
> each section.
> You will need some sort of standard to set
> the gains of each amp. -A known flat
> reference system for instance, or ideally a
> measurement system.
> -Watch your phase for reversals. Not all
> amps preserve absolute polarity from input
> to output.

> C

[oldmongrel]

[...]

> Whatever
> the configuration - is adjusting the levels
> a big problem, or can the dcx2496 handle
> that?

I use one of those. You can use it to set levels for each output. It's more convenient, tho', if you have level controls on the amps.

John

[curt_c]

> Thanks Curt, sounds good. Given I have some
> kind of reference, can the Behringer handle
> adjusting the different levels or do I need
> something else for that?

How about the individual volume controls on the amps? Once you set them, you need some sommon attenuator ahead of the Behringer to serve as the overall volume.

C

[chrisg]

Thanks for all the responses guys - think I have a good idea of what the options are.

Suggestions for a variable l-pad for the tweeter since I might need one? Can they have a large impact on sound quality?

Also any suggestions for an cheap power amp (I'm thinking ebay) to handle up to 1.5K Hz?

[Paul O]

> How about the individual volume controls on
> the amps? Once you set them, you need some
> sommon attenuator ahead of the Behringer to
> serve as the overall volume.

The right way to do this is to use your existing AVR as the main source selector and overall volume control. Take mains line out from this and go to the active crossover, and then each pass band goes to the respective amplifiers. Level adjustments between bands are made on the crossover.