NAD 356 - Biamping - Is this correct?

[Mayank Shah]

Hello.

As you know, the NAD 356 has 2 sets of speaker outs. Speaker A and B. Can both A & B used for bi-amping?

Example:

Speakers A L - Left Speaker top binding posts (High)

Speakers A R Right Speaker top binding posts (high)



Speakers B L Left Speaker bottom binding posts (Low)

Speakers B R Right Speaker bottom binding posts (Low)

Is the above way correct, if not please suggest proper way to use both speaker outs to bi-amp.

Normally when only one Speaker out is used (Speaker A), I have seen that the speakers are bi-wired only. Like 2 pairs of wire from each left and right of Speaker A out to top and lower posts of left and right speakers with the jumper removed.

Will bi-amping improve sound quality, if the procedure is correct in the first place?

Many Thanks in advance. Good Day.

 

[aashish351]

It's still bi-wiring only... There are no two extra amp modules in the c356. True bi-amping is when you put an additional power amp on either of the lows or highs speakers.

 

[Mayank Shah]

Thanks. Yes the NAD 356 A/B outs share the same amp. But can this way be done with any benefit from SQ? Couple of things which got me confused were

1. NAD said that A and B can be used for bi-amping while Polk suggested the above for bi-amping.

Polk manual out of the box mentions bi-wiring only. So I understand that you need 2 seperate physical amps for bi-amping.

Tried straight single connection with jumpers on the speakers and bi-wiring without jumpers. Maybe placebo effect but bi-wiring sounds better. hyeah:

So the idea of Speaker A for high and Speaker B for Lows (or vice versa) will not work without damaging the amp / speakers I guess. :sad:

 

[aashish351]

It will work no doubt and will not damage anything. But it's not called bi-amping!

 

[reubensm]

bi means 2 and hence bi-amping will require 2 amps. One amp drives the high-frequency drivers on both channels, while the other drives the low-frequency drivers on both channels. More than the wiring on the amps, you should have speakers which support bi-amping, that's all. 2 stereo amps will give you 4 outputs anyways

Some amps have A&B switchable speaker outputs. You can use 2 sets of speakers with the same amp. This approach allows you to use specific speakers to specific music genres or even have speakers set up in different rooms and switch to the appropriate ones when you wish.

 

[Mayank Shah]

It will work no doubt and will not damage anything. But it's not called bi-amping!

Yes, it will not be bi(2) amping in the true sense. So we could use a nice bright / warm amp even with moderate wattage for the highs and something like NAD 356 for the lows. A proper 3 way speaker makes more sense I guess.

 

[Mayank Shah]

bi means 2 and hence bi-amping will require 2 amps. One amp drives the high-frequency drivers on both channels, while the other drives the low-frequency drivers on both channels. More than the wiring on the amps, you should have speakers which support bi-amping, that's all. 2 stereo amps will give you 4 outputs anyways

Some amps have A&B switchable speaker outputs. You can use 2 sets of speakers with the same amp. This approach allows you to use specific speakers to specific music genres or even have speakers set up in different rooms and switch to the appropriate ones when you wish.

Yes true, it would not be bi(2) amping in the true sense with 1 amp. The guys at Polk suggested that i could go for Speaker A outs for the highs/mids and speaker B outs for the lows. But don't know if it is worth the effort and money for extra cables et all.

I keep going back to audition the Polk RTi A7 with my cousins NAD 356 more than any other speakers. One thing which always nags me at the back of my mind that at low and moderate volumes (at 9 and below 9 O clock), the only sound which seems to be coming from the RTi A7 is from the mid driver and tweeter. You can hardly hear anything from its 2 bass drivers.

At higher volumes the bass is tight and punchy but again I feel that most the hard work is being done by the mid driver.

Even connecting a sub gave it only a slightly rounded off feeling rather than enhancing the bass or hearing anything different. Anyway it was a Polk sub and I did not have much time to play around with the XO settings etc and also mainly on its own I never felt the need to have a sub with the RTI A7 playing at higher volumes.......but you know that nagging feeling right.

Is it true that when bi-amping, both the amplifiers should be identical?