Bi-Wiring & Bi-amping Clear As Mud?

[Funky54]

Firstly, Thanks for uploading the images and description OverLoad I really appreciate the work you put into that. I was scouring the net for some advice and found your post which lead to my registration on the forum. I am very new to the audio scene, I love music and in particular Vinyl of which I have what I consider to be a decent size 1st Press collection of VG+ to Mint records... Anyway I am basically poor and so when I set up my system it took me a while to buy each piece very cheaply from garage sales, car boots and online. I now have a little bit of cash and I want to bi-amp by system by simply adding another identical amp and a crossover.

I want to replicate the 2nd to last config set up, Active Bi-Amp Horizontal Configuration this just seems to make more sense to me than anything else...ability to control the gain on both low and high signals independently just seems correct. Anyway the question I have is do you know where I can buy the cross over? I looked on eBay and there are a few but it is a little confusing. Also does anyone what kind of cables would I need for those strange looking inputs on the back of most of the crossovers I have seen??

Current Set Up:
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable
Cambridge Audio P25 Mk2
Bowers & Wilkins S3 DM602.5 x 2
(I currently don't use a pre amp, should I be??)

Intended Set Up
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon Turntable
Cambridge Audio Pre Amp 651P
Crossover (Brand ?? - Need help here)
Cambridge Audio P25 MK2 x 2
Bowers & Wilkins S3 DM602.5 x 2

Any advice on the cross over, the non use of a pre amp in current set up or anything would be hugely appreciated as I am a complete noob...

The whole set up cost me €600 (around €580) I only paid €20 for my amp.

If it were me... and I don't care about clip board theory and science nerd rules.. when I just hook stuff up and compare, here's what sounded best so far with my stuff - "Verticle bi-amped, bi-wired"

With this arrangement, you do not need an active crossover. You benifit by the marvelous crossover design someone smart already put time into. Speaker and crossover design differ, so the results differ, and in my opinion that's why our opinions all differ. What's right or wrong for one list of gear is not the same with the next list of gear.

 

[Funky54]

Yes. I've successfully used 12V wall wart power supplies for car audio crossovers. On my desk at work I have a 200W switching power supply for use with one of my favorite old car audio amplifier. To make it work I also use a car audio eq as a preamp/source selector.

Let me talk out of my rear for a moment... I've never tried using a 12v tranny to power a crossover unless it was designed and manufactured with it. But that does raise red flags in my mind. Trannies usually make noise, so let's place one as the power supplies at one of the most critical links in regards to sound quality? I've never tried it, and trying and then "knowing" regardless of what supposed smart people say has always been key for me.

For me (because I've invested days and weeks worth of time to have an educated opinion) I know as a fact that sometimes, with some speakers, bi-wiring sounds different than not bi-wiring. I also know many times it makes no difference. My opinion is that it comes down to the crossover. I also know that active crossovers are not always superior. There are so many variables.