5 channel amp for two channel audio?

[Patt]

Can a 5 channel amplifier be used with excellent results on a 2 channel system?

I was thinking four of the five channels could be used to bi-wire two speakers, then the fifth could be used for a sub.

Quality of equipment the same, maybe it would be more or less efficient or better in some way, versus a two channel amp.

Appreciate any and all input.........Thanks.

[Race Car Driver]

I was also wondering about use two channels to run one speaker.

[soundhound]

Sure, many have done this, 4 channels of a 5 channel amp to bi-wire the fronts. Purists may disagree, and to some extent I would agree, less is better, as far as what a components function is. Thus the reason for the mono block amp to begin with. I had just went thru this and opted for 2 dual channels to bi-amp the fronts, one 2 channel runs the left front, and the other runs the right front. That left my 5 channel to run the center, surrounds and rear centers. It made a big enough difference by bi-amping to opt for this.

[Patt]

Thanks Guy's,

I have read in the past there may be advantages to bi-wiring and using seperate amplification with speakers especially with the big boys and their high dollar gear. My Studio #40's can use all the help they can get, they are really struggling with the 100 watt stereo reciever.

Sure one amp will work with one or more speakers but when it comes to amps I like to think the more the merrier.

Also heard power is not everything and quality play's a big role too.

RaceCar, Two channels for one speaker......bi-amping all the way :T

[Stockinv]

5 Channel Amp

I plan on using a 5 channel amp to bi-wire the center channel and use the remaining channels for the rears and sub. Is this a good strategy?

[OakIris]

I will be using my 5-channel power amp to run my mains - passive bi-amping and biwiring - and my center speaker. Still waiting to receive my new speaker wires to finish this set up. My rear speakers and sub are being powered by my receiver. Everything sounds a bit better now, I am hoping for "great" things once everything is set up. Of course, it could all be sounding better because that is my expectation - the power of suggestion?? :roll:

Anyway, I wanted to improve my 2-channel music sonics -CDs and analog - and it certainly sounds better to me.

[Patt]

Thanks Oak,

I guess as long as the speakers are being fed power then it may not matter if it is two, three five or seven.

For the longest time I was thinking about a two channel amp but if a smokin' good deal on a five channel came along it could be something to consider.

[ThomasW]

The only potential issue is that the power supply may run out of gas with higher SLPs. Subs tend to draw quite a bit of power. So loud transients may cause problems. It's best to give subwoofers their own amps.

[OakIris]

Thomas - I use a powered sub, not a passive one, though I have heard that passive subs are better - no interference from an internal power supply. I just purchased a Rocket UFW-10 and find it very musical. (And it's quite pretty to look at too. ) I guess I assumed that a powered sub did not require any power from the amp. Am I wrong about this? ops:

Holly

[Patt]

Hi Holly,

You are right, my sub has a built in amp too, (svs cylinder) which does not draw hardly any power from the reciever. I use the speaker binding post's and not the low level sub out like most A/V reciever's.

From what I gather, the finish on those Rocket sub's are nice looking....Enjoy.

P.S. Thomas is way sharper than me on this stuff. :W

[mark4x4]

Sure, many have done this, 4 channels of a 5 channel amp to bi-wire the fronts. Purists may disagree, and to some extent I would agree, less is better, as far as what a components function is. Thus the reason for the mono block amp to begin with. I had just went thru this and opted for 2 dual channels to bi-amp the fronts, one 2 channel runs the left front, and the other runs the right front. That left my 5 channel to run the center, surrounds and rear centers. It made a big enough difference by bi-amping to opt for this.

Soundhound,

If I understand you correctly, you're using one 2 channel amp to power your left speaker and another 2 channel amp to power your right speaker. Wouldn't it be better to use one of the 2 channel amps to power the bass to both speakers and use the other to power the highs to both speakers? This would give you a true bi-amp and you would double up the power per channel.

Correct me if I'm wrong,
mark4x4

[hidefdvd]

Soundhound,

If I understand you correctly, you're using one 2 channel amp to power your left speaker and another 2 channel amp to power your right speaker. Wouldn't it be better to use one of the 2 channel amps to power the bass to both speakers and use the other to power the highs to both speakers? This would give you a true bi-amp and you would double up the power per channel.

Correct me if I'm wrong,
mark4x4

Wouldn't using a monoblock design 5 channel amp to power the speakers in bi-amp mode be the same as using two seperate 2channel amps?

[Chuck G]

Actually, it would be better than using 2 seperate 2 channel amps unless the 2 channel ones were mono block design. I use a Sherbourn 5/1500a exactly for biamping my front mains. You have very few 5 channel mono block amps (Bryston and Sherbourn maybe a couple of others that are priced sky high).

[mark4x4]

Wouldn't using a monoblock design 5 channel amp to power the speakers in bi-amp mode be the same as using two seperate 2channel amps?

From my understanding the only problem with using a 5 channel amp is that each channels usually shares one power supply. From what i've been told that using 2 2 channel amps creates the possibility of increased cross-talk. The best way to bi-amp (I've only been told this, I've have not tried this myself) is to use an active crossover and run 2 mono blocks per side. This would give you 4 mono blocks total. One configuration that seems to work well is to use a solid state amp for the bass and a tube amp for the highs.

I'm currently using an Aragon 8008 MKII with is a dual mono design that put out 200 wpc into 8 ohms and 400wpc into 4 ohms. I'm thinking about using 2 mono block amps (Aragon Palladium 1K 400 wpc into 8 ohms) and no active crossover. This would only give me the benefit of doubling my power output from 200wpc to 400wpc only, I don't see any other benefit in going in this direction. I'm using Aerial 10T's for my front mains and they require power, more the better. I'm still trying to decide which config would be the most cost effective way of increasing my power while improving the sound.

mark4x4