Bi Amp and Onkyo Sr 606

[REDoverBlu]

I was listening to some music today and reading on the forums and i decided to mess around with my settings and i set my speakers to bi amp and a few mins into a song i was listening to the receiver just turned off!?!?!

is it using to much power or something? i have never had a problem with the speakers set to normal...


does this mean i need a better surge protector of some sort?

comments please.....

[Aurora]

You need to connect your front speakers in a bi-amp configuration. Speakers that support bi-amping look like this on the back:

http://www.dcmspeakers.com/products/...zoom/biamp.jpg

Then you hook it up like this:
http://www.oregondv.com/Brassandgran...ingdiagram.JPG

If you just set to bi-amp without doing this, you're making two terminals on your receiver into an open circuit--there's power trying to be sent to them, but it's a dead-end, so it can't happen. This upsets your receiver because it sees infinite resistance connected to the terminals, and it ends up overloading and shutting down.

[Cochise]

So, you're saying you set the speakers to bi-amp in the 606's setup menu? Did you run the second set of wires to your front speakers, using the rear surround output terminals from the receiver? Did you make sure you removed the metal tabs on the speaker's connectors that bond the two separate inputs together? And are you sure your front speakers are bi-amp capable?

[REDoverBlu]

aurora nailed it on the head.... im just a newbie


thanks guys

[Cochise]

aurora nailed it on the head.... im just a newbie

She usually does.

I tried bi-amping my front speakers with my 605 (running the wires, etc.) and I noticed little or no difference. But then I bought an inexpensive pair of speakers off Craig's List to use as rear surrounds and make my system 7.1, and like that a lot better.

[Double_Tap]

I don't want to disagree with Aurora after the whole ClinicaBluTerraCamry SELTD fiasco, but....

One of the pictures she linked is for bi-wiring. That's a bit different from bi-amping. Bi-wiring is where the 2 sets of speaker terminals go to the same receiver/amplifier output. Bi-amping is where each speaker terminal goes to separate receiver/amplifier channels. So, on a receiver, one terminal will go to your main speaker output and the other will go to surround back; or whatever your manual says to use when bi-amping it.

Bi-amping is worth the effort, in my opinion; bi-wiring isn't.

http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm

[Aurora]

One of the pictures she linked is for bi-wiring. That's a bit different from bi-amping. Bi-wiring is where the 2 sets of speaker terminals go to the same receiver/amplifier output. Bi-amping is where each speaker terminal goes to separate receiver/amplifier channels. So, on a receiver, one terminal will go to your main speaker output and the other will go to surround back; or whatever your manual says to use when bi-amping it.

Oops. I posted the link to the wrong image--thought I grabbed one of the bi-amp ones.

Bi-amping is worth the effort, in my opinion; bi-wiring isn't.

Well, you have one of two choices if you have speakers like the ones in the picture I posted:
1) Use the little bar that links the two terminals.
2) Bi-amp or bi-wire.

You have to do one of these, since you can't just remove the linking bar. If you do, then half the speaker won't work. (i.e., disconnect the bar, connect to the bottom, and you won't get any sound at all out of the tweaters).

I personally don't trust the little bar that links the terminals. I don't know why, I just think it seems kinda shady. If you're unable to bi-amp (i.e., in a 7.1 config), then bi-wiring is needed. You can do it nicely with open screw banana plugs.

[REDoverBlu]

i am unfamiliar with banana plugs... is soldering involved?

and will my speakers accept them?

[crazzeto]

In many cases yes, or you can get solderless plugs at rshack.

[mrspeakers]

In many cases yes, or you can get solderless plugs at rshack.

Banana plugs are readily available. Most do not require solder. Be aware that on cheap banana plugs with "springs" for pressure, the springs lose their spring over time, and the plugs can come loose. It's worth spending a few extra $ to get compression-type plugs. The have an internal screw that pushes the metal out to make a solid connection to your speaker terminals. I think BlueJeans and monoprice source some from the same vendor.

Regarding bi-amping: I have 4 ohm speakers, so they present a heavy load for a typical receiver. I use bi-amping on my new 805 to drive the front L/R. When I'm playing load, the system does sound less strained, but it's only when it is really loud. You basically have doubled the power behind the speaker, but since more power is consumed in the bass than in the tweeter, the real benefit is somewhat reduced.

[bujee1]

I Bi-amped my front speakers when I used a 605 in my main theater and could tell a difference right away. Maybe it's my speaker/reciever combination. When I switched to a 606 I kept the same wiring configuration. I could only use bananna plugs to connect to the reciever but I'm glad I did. It made the switch much easier.

[REDoverBlu]

any links to solderless compression type banana plugs?

im guessing they aren't the ones with the plastic / rubbery bases to them?

[crazzeto]

Banana plugs are readily available. Most do not require solder. Be aware that on cheap banana plugs with "springs" for pressure, the springs lose their spring over time, and the plugs can come loose. It's worth spending a few extra $ to get compression-type plugs. The have an internal screw that pushes the metal out to make a solid connection to your speaker terminals. I think BlueJeans and monoprice source some from the same vendor.

Regarding bi-amping: I have 4 ohm speakers, so they present a heavy load for a typical receiver. I use bi-amping on my new 805 to drive the front L/R. When I'm playing load, the system does sound less strained, but it's only when it is really loud. You basically have doubled the power behind the speaker, but since more power is consumed in the bass than in the tweeter, the real benefit is somewhat reduced.

So with the 805 are you able to do 7.1 bi-amped or do you have a 5.1 setup?

[REDoverBlu]

just noticed my 100th post wooooot! lol

[crazzeto]

just noticed my 100th post wooooot! lol

:ops open a bottle of champagn, hands you a glass:: congrats, anyone else want a glass?