Marantz Biamp Question

[guitarcal]

Hi all,

This is my first post, but I have followed the forum for a bit.

I own a Marantz SR6007 and a pair of B&W 603 S2s currently in a biamp setup. Overall, I am running a 5.2 setup. I have the marantz in biamp mode where the surround backs are powering the tweaters of the B&W 603s and the Front A L/R channel is powering the woofers.
When the speakers are driven at higher volumes, they are dipping to around 4ohms which creates heating issues with my receiver.

What I would like to do is power the B&W woofers with a separate power amp, offloading a majority of the work to this power amp. The B&W tweaters would continue to be powered by my receiver.

Does this sound like a good solution?

The setup would be as follows (my center, subs, and surrounds are connected as well):
On the receiver
- Front A L/R NOT connected to anything
- Surround Back L/R connected to the B&W tweaters
- Pre Out FL / FR to the second power amp inputs

On the second power amp (undecided on what to get)
- L/R connected to the B&W woofers.

In the above setup, should I be concerned that nothing is connected to the Front A L/R main outs?

Thanks!
Calvin

 

[Hipocrates]

should I be concerned that nothing is connected to the Front A L/R main outs?

Nope, just get a nice amp (depends of budget, footprint).... and you are set.
Just in case some reading about that.
http://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/connecting-an-external-amp-to-a-receiver

 

[guitarcal]

Nope, just get a nice amp (depends of budget, footprint).... and you are set.
Just in case some reading about that.
http://www.audioholics.com/home-theater-connection/connecting-an-external-amp-to-a-receiver

Thanks for confirming and the link. This is good information!

 

[whoaru99]

..

When the speakers are driven at higher volumes, they are dipping to around 4ohms which creates heating issues with my receiver.

Heating issues? The receiver is shutting off/going into protection?

 

[guitarcal]

Heating issues? The receiver is shutting off/going into protection?

Yes, the receiver will go into protection mode if ran at louder volumes for extended periods of time. The room is larger and very open, so it seems I have to run at louder volumes to get a full sound.

 

[Hipocrates]

Yes, the receiver will go into protection mode if ran at louder volumes for extended periods of time. The room is larger and very open, so it seems I have to run at louder volumes to get a full sound.

Yes those receivers while nice and full of features, are not a power house... oh and BTW welcome to AK. Check the HT section too, good stuff there

 

[whoaru99]

Yes, the receiver will go into protection mode if ran at louder volumes for extended periods of time. The room is larger and very open, so it seems I have to run at louder volumes to get a full sound.

I see. If it has good ventilation then the external amp sounds like a good idea.

However, I think I'd be inclined just to use a quality external amp and conventional/strapped connections to the speaker rather than biamp with the internal amp and external amp combo.

 

[guitarcal]

I see. If it has good ventilation then the external amp sounds like a good idea.

However, I think I'd be inclined just to use a quality external amp and conventional/strapped connections to the speaker rather than biamp with the internal amp and external amp combo.

Thanks for the suggestion, I will try both configurations to see which sounds better to my ears. I like the idea of biamping when you can control crossover, but it may sound better just to use the power amp.

 

[Hipocrates]

I think I'd be inclined just to use a quality external amp and conventional/strapped connections to the speaker rather than biamp with the internal amp and external amp combo.

+1
IMO, Just get a nice 3 channel amp for L/C/R or 5 channel amp if you are fix with bi-amping (Anthem and sunfire are good choices) ....and let those wimpy receiver's amp modules for surround or B zone, you won't regret it.
After that, you probably do better with a speakers upgrade.

 

[whoaru99]

Thanks for the suggestion, I will try both configurations to see which sounds better to my ears. I like the idea of biamping when you can control crossover, but it may sound better just to use the power amp.

Unless the Marantz is doing something extra special/unique, which I doubt, you are not controlling the biamp crossover. It's just sending the same full range signal to both sections of the speaker.