What about bi-amping? When does it make sense to run two amps instead of one? Let’s massage the topic!
The theory behind bi-amping is, it is better to run one amp for the mid & tweeter array and another for the woofers- as opposed to having one amp drive the whole tower and have to fight its way through a bigger crossover network.
To assess this decision we have to use real world products. Details matter.
For our discussion the speakers are going to be Bryston A2s. These are muscular towers that have two sets of inputs. The top set goes to the mid/tweet array. The lower set goes to the woofs.
We’re going to run our NAD preamp into an NAD power amp. Or two.
I would rather run one NAD C-298 ($2400, 185×2, Eigentakt) instead of two NAD C-268 ($1k, 80×2, Ncore). Why? The extra muscle of the C-298 is pertinent. But MORE important is that the sound of the Eigentakt is cleaner than that of the Ncore of C-268.
For roughly $2400 spent, I would rather run one C-298 than two C-268s.
Why might you bi-amp?
Well, perhaps when you bought your Bryston A2s, you didn’t have $2400 to spend on a C-298. Instead, you bought a single C-268 which WILL play the A2s very well. It’s a combo worth owning and running for serious listening.
When you refill your piggy bank, you can buy a second C-268 and run the bi-amped config. Or, you can run the C-268s bridged, one monoblock per tower.
Yet… I would prefer a single C-298. Oh, and by the way, you CAN buy a second C-298 down the road, and run bi-amped, or bridged.
Running bi-amped makes sense theoretically. But in this scenario, I would prefer you buy a single BETTER amp.
Almost always, it will make sense to go this route. Yet we have to face reality. If you’re not flush enough to buy C-298 when you buy your A2s, get the C-268 and ENJOY. Just please come back and buy another C-268 to let those Bryston A2s sing as they can!
