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Running XLS-340 Speakers With Two Different Amps -- Will It Help Me?

F

feinstei

AK Member
I am running my McIntosh XLS-340 front speakers from my beloved MC-275 Mark VI amp. I have an extra MC-7100 stereo transistorized amp lying unused in my closet. The XLS-340 speakers have two sets of connectors on each speaker, one for the lows and one for the highs (I guess this is called "bi-amping" capability).

I'm wondering if I'd get any benefit from hooking up the MC-7100 to the lows and the MC-275 Mark VI to the highs (or vice-versa) on the XLS-340's. Forgive my ignorance, but I've never run speakers using 2 amplifiers before.

Is there any advantage to doing this or will the addition of the MC-7100 hurt the "vacuum tube sound" that I like so much?

If there is some advantage (more headroom etc), which amp should I hook to the highs and which amp should I hook to the lows on the XLS-340's?

I have the MC-275 Mark VI hooked to my MX-121 preamp using the balanced connectors, should I hook the MC-7100 to the MX-121 using the unbalanced connectors?
 
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Oh yes, that's what I do, all the time, with all kind of tube amps, for mids and highs. MC402 SS for the lows. It's an amazing combination.

Obviously for the powerful tube amps, it is not needed. But it's still fun to try.

I use XLR for the lows and RCA for the mids/highs.

I added a passive XLR attenuator for the lows, that way I can control precisely how much lows I need to my taste per type of tube amp with no gain control.
 
Depends on what sort of help you're looking for.

The effective/net power to the speakers is still no greater than the smallest amp if you're running full range signals though them. But, to Brice's point, it allows easy and dramatic alterations to the ratio of lows to mid/high, if you wish to do so.
 
Thanks.... I'm going to give it a try. The worst that can happen is that I won't like the sound.... Luckily, the 7100 and MC-275 Mk VI put out pretty much the same wattage at 8 ohms.
 
Careful. When you go down this road, you're flying in the face of what things should sound like and getting into the realm of what things do sound like.

Have fun.
 
damacman said:
Careful. When you go down this road, you're flying in the face of what things should sound like and getting into the realm of what things do sound like.

Have fun.
Click to expand...
The worst that can happen is that I just back out the MC-7100... Thanks for the warning though!!!
 
Its a shame the 340 isn't 4 ohm speaker then you would gain some big advantage in power. The 7100 going to give you a different experience for sure. You may not like the range from 200 to 500 hz though as this the range tube lovers find the 275 surpasses SS amps. I don't remember the crossover frequency, but if its around 300 Z you would be fine keeping most of the magic sound. The lower the better. The 7100 will add a touch of definition to the bass sound you might like on certain recordings. On others maybe to much. Hopefully you can match the sensitivities of the amps to get the proper match between the 7100 and the 275.
 
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