bi-wiring dilemma

[the_doc735]

I have:

Onkyo A-9010 amp + Tacima CS947
Tannoy DC6T Speakers
Tannoy TS10 Subwoofer + Tacima CS947
sennheiser HD 558 headset
Arcam Miniblink DAC + iFI iPOWER
HP Pavilion G6* - 2382sa D0Y14EA#ABU + Creative BT-D1 [+ Azio BTD-V401]
[*using onboard battery for music listening].
+ decent OFC's with gold tipped plugs were necessary.

Now, thinking of bi-wiring this rig but the amp only has one set of speaker posts! ~ So, I might go 'pre/power' amp configuration.
Limited budget as always but I found the LINN LK-85 (with good reviews) during surfing the web.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience of the Linn LK-85 power amp? ...as this seems to fit the bill (i.e. 2 sets of speaker posts), at an affordable price point!

Also. heard plenty of people raving about bi-wiring with a pre/power amp configuration? ....just wondering if anyone can substantiate these claims please?

thanks in advance!

[hifi_dave]

Don't bother to bi-wire. If you want a change, then buy a better single speaker cable.

[Pieoftheday]

i bi-wired once using ecosse es 4.45. 2 into 4, from an intergrated amp, didnt gain any benefit IMHO, you dont need 2 sets of speaker posts on your amp, biwire cable will be terminated at amp end as usual (2 connections) then split into 4 connections(speaker end):)

[walpurgis]

Don't bother to bi-wire. If you want a change, then buy a better single speaker cable.

Spot on!

[Barry]

It might help for you to read this: http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?5818-Basics-amp-General-Bi-amping-and-Bi-wiring.

You don't need extra speaker posts on your amplifier to bi-wire. What you do need is for your speakers to have separate terminals for the woofer and tweeter. These are connected together with two links at the back of the speaker. The links are removed to bi-wire, and are replaced with two separate cable running back to the output terminals on the amplifier.

Bi-wiring is not a panacea, but can be of benefit in some situations. I can only suggest you try it and see; you certainly won't do any harm.

[walpurgis]

Also. heard plenty of people raving about bi-wiring with a pre/power amp configuration? ....just wondering if anyone can substantiate these claims please?

Do you mean bi-amping? That's rather different.

[RichB]

Don't bother to bi-wire. If you want a change, then buy a better single speaker cable.

What he said.

You can make yourself a short set of jumper cables at the speaker end from your favourite wire.

The only time I have ever hear a big difference from biwiring was with my NVA LS5 speaker cable. This was made by NVA to present a single load at the amp end but splits the cores at the speaker end into more for a LF leg and fewer cores for a HF leg. This really did bring my Rega RS5 speakers to life. Not cheap but very good. I think NVA can do the same with the lower priced LS3 cable too.

[the_doc735]

Do you mean bi-amping? That's rather different.

No!

[the_doc735]

OK ~ so forget the bi-wiring.

my speaker cable is: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361449357905?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

...so how about the onkyo a9010 + Linn LK85 pair up?

:uhho:

....suggestions on a postcard for a power amp to match the ONKYO A9010?

[Pieoftheday]

OK ~ so forget the bi-wiring.

my speaker cable is: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361449357905?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

...so how about the onkyo a9010 + Linn LK85 pair up?

:uhho:
hi Paul, is the a9010 the UK tuned jobbie? ive read good things about it. how do you rate it with your tannoys? Jim

[twickers]

The Onkyo hasn't got any pre-outs iirc, so I wouldn't bother bi-amping.

[the_doc735]

hi Paul, is the a9010 the UK tuned jobbie? ive read good things about it. how do you rate it with your tannoys? Jim

Hi, I need more time to get used to it but initially I find it rather thin, treble'y, 'S' ish. Could be because this has frequency response up to 100KHz, where as my old NAD only reaches 20KHz.? The Onkyo is the UK version.

[the_doc735]

The Onkyo hasn't got any pre-outs iirc, so I wouldn't bother bi-amping.

Hi, it has a phono/RCA line level output (L/R).

[Macca]

Not a variable output though, I would guess, so not much use as you won't be able to adjust volume which is more than a minor inconvenience. I think the NAD 3020 can be used as a pre-amp though.

[the_doc735]

Not a variable output though, I would guess, so not much use as you won't be able to adjust volume which is more than a minor inconvenience. I think the NAD 3020 can be used as a pre-amp though.

what about a power amp with volume control?

[Macca]

Should work fine, providing you don't want to use a turntable and don't have a problem with only being able to connect one source at a time.

[the_doc735]

Should work fine, providing you don't want to use a turntable and don't have a problem with only being able to connect one source at a time.

:cheers:

[the_doc735]

Should work fine, providing you don't want to use a turntable and don't have a problem with only being able to connect one source at a time.

all the sources would be connected to the Onkyo A-9010 inc. a turntable and I would only be listening to one source at a time i.e. I wouldn't normally listen to a CD, Record, cassette & tuner all at once anyway! The signal would be passed via the line out phono sockets to the power amp and the speakers connected to the power amp and I would use a power amp with a volume control.

[Bluebeat13]

A few years ago I ran two LK85's to biamp a pair of B&W 684s. Even the pair of them were too weedy to drive the LF properly. Sold them off with the LK1 pre and bought a Unison Research Unico integrated. It was 1000 times better at driving the speakers and cost less than the linn kit put together.

I'll never bother bi wiring or bi amping or anything like that again.

[Bluebeat13]

Double post...

[the_doc735]

A few years ago I ran two LK85's to biamp a pair of B&W 684s. Even the pair of them were too weedy to drive the LF properly. Sold them off with the LK1 pre and bought a Unison Research Unico integrated. It was 1000 times better at driving the speakers and cost less than the linn kit put together.

I'll never bother bi wiring or bi amping or anything like that again.

:eyebrows::hmm::youtheman: