Yamaha A-460. To bi-wire or not bi-wire. That is the question.

[Kalliman]

Hi,

Very new to the scene and could use some advice.

Picked up a Yamaha A460:

https://www.hifiengine.com/manual_library/yamaha/a-460.shtml

Pairing with Paradigm Monitor 7.v2's which can be bi-wired.

I am assuming I can bi-wire speaker terminals and connect to A speakers L and R at amp side.

Can I split the red/black for each speaker and use the B terminals for one or other of the speaker terminals for both L and R speakers. So one set of terminals to A-L and other to B-L, and A-R with B-R?

Is it possible, advisable, beneficial, foolish?

Thanks
Rob

 

[Okke 70s]

The last one, I'm afraid. You see, the point of bi-wireing is to have separate amplifiers drive the sepperate drivers of the same loudspeaker.

The A and B outputs of a single amplifier are (usually) the same thing, only sepperated by that very switch.

 

[Kalliman]

Thanks, so no risk to this approach but are there tangible benefits?

 

[Funky54]

Are your speakers 8 ohm or lower?

Your probably ok if I follow your question. If your speakers are lower that’s 8 ohm I wouldn't try it. If they are 8 ohm


Step 1 - Connect
Step 2 - Listen
Step 3 - If its better, leave it bi-wired

 

[Kalliman]

Even if I can't notice the difference in reality, for the effort to connect biwired (none of these are biamped are they?) I'll believe it sounds better, and therefore it will.

 

[Okke 70s]

In that case: be your own god, and enjoy the enhanced experience!

 

[lini]

(...) You see, the point of bi-wireing is to have separate amplifiers drive the sepperate drivers of the same loudspeaker. (...)

That's not bi-wiring, that's bi-amping.

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Kalliman]

I've pondered more and think that since A and B are not powered separately, I'm not seeing the benefit to spreading wires across A and B.

I'm a newbie though so please be gentle.

 

[Okke 70s]

Ah there you go! Don't worry, you already made more common-sense progress then some people do over years and years of buying very expansive stuff.

 

[Kalliman]

Is there some kind of reward for common sense like graduating to not so newbie

 

[Okke 70s]

That's not bi-wiring, that's bi-amping.

You are right of course. Bi-wiring is just a misinterpretation of bi-amping in my mind. As it makes so little sense.

 

[Okke 70s]

Is there some kind of reward for common sense like graduating to not so newbie

Haha! I guess the reward used to be "better odds on survival" some day. Not quite sure about the score today.

 

[lini]

(...) As it makes so little sense.

Oh, well, some people believe, that some cable types do better with the lower ranges of the audible band and some cable types do better with the higher ranges of the audible band - and bi-wiring provides them with the possibility to use both and feel better that way. So that's ok with me (although I'd rather suspect, that the only ones, who really profit from bi-wirng, are the cable manufacturers and vendors...).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

 

[Kalliman]

Not entirely on topic but, is there a way to use the B channel for a powered sub?

 

[goodolpg]

Yes. You can use A for the main speakers and B for the sub. Since it's an active/powered sub it will be fine.
If it was a passive (not powered) sub there might be a problem.

 

[Kalliman]

Oh, well, some people believe, that some cable types do better with the lower ranges of the audible band and some cable types do better with the higher ranges of the audible band - and bi-wiring provides them with the possibility to use both and feel better that way. So that's ok with me (although I'd rather suspect, that the only ones, who really profit from bi-wirng, are the cable manufacturers and vendors...).

Greetings from Munich!

Manfred / lini

You are probably right.

Yes. You can use A for the main speakers and B for the sub. Since it's an active/powered sub it will be fine.
If it was a passive (not powered) sub there might be a problem.

Preferably a sub with adjustable cutoff ?

 

[goodolpg]

That would probably be "best" as far as integrating it into your current system.
Seems like most fairly modern subs would have a cutoff control, older/cheap ones maybe not?
If not adjustable it would still work and not hurt anything, but the sound may be compromised.
DSP might be an option but someone else can better explain that.

 

[Kalliman]

I just happen to have a Paradigm PDR-10.v3 with speaker level inputs and variable cutoff lying around.

I'm a paradigm kind of guy here in Canada in case you people didn't notice.

 

[Kalliman]

Hi anyone who is interested, here is the system I put together with a few pics.

I'm pretty pleased as this amp drives the Monitor 7's effortlessly and with sound dynamics, punchy. The variable loudness dial is valuable. I also decided I do not need a sub based on what I have heard so far.

And yes I did end up biwiring returned to A only. Only because the cables had already been built that way. I sensed scepticism.
I'll update the pictures when I have turntable in service.

Yamaha A460 integrated amp
Yamaha DVD-S550 CD/DVD player
Paradigm Monitor 7v.3's
Dual CS-515 turntable (in transit)