Any suggestion for a good RCA (male to male) Y-cable that is made for bi-amp usage?
The Y splitter has to be at the pre-amp end and not at amp end as the subwoofer cables.
I need the two "legs" in the "Y" to be long enough so it can reach the two amps. E.g. 75 cm would be sufficient for each "leg" in the "Y".
The Y splitter has to be at the pre-amp end and not at amp end as the subwoofer cables.
I need the two "legs" in the "Y" to be long enough so it can reach the two amps. E.g. 75 cm would be sufficient for each "leg" in the "Y".
Not sure what you mean.
A standard RCA Y cable has 1 Male RCA at one end and 2 RCA's at the other. Electrically they are all connected the same (i.e. all pins of all 3 connectors are connected, as are all 3 shells.
There are manufacturers who make directional cables, but as long as you avoid those, the normal symmetrical cables should work. Or am I misunderstanding the question?
A standard RCA Y cable has 1 Male RCA at one end and 2 RCA's at the other. Electrically they are all connected the same (i.e. all pins of all 3 connectors are connected, as are all 3 shells.
There are manufacturers who make directional cables, but as long as you avoid those, the normal symmetrical cables should work. Or am I misunderstanding the question?
Yes, 1 male RCA to 2 x RCA male (connected together). So I need one of these for L-channel and another for R-channel. So far so good......
The important part is that 2 x RCA male can reach each power amp that is like say 50 cm from each other. The subwoofer cables are not made like that. The 2 x RCA male connections are too short.
The important part is that 2 x RCA male can reach each power amp that is like say 50 cm from each other. The subwoofer cables are not made like that. The 2 x RCA male connections are too short.
just make your own from decent cable
or use single/simple RCA cables with all female RCA doublers .......... or 2 female/1 male RCA doublers
or use single/simple RCA cables with all female RCA doublers .......... or 2 female/1 male RCA doublers
I know that e.g. Supra cables makes a 25 cm Y-fork that has 1 x male to 2 x female. Such an adapter could be used so single cables are connected to the "female fork".
Have an idea to maybe install two sets of RCA out to Whammy. One power amp has 5k input impedance which is quite low. Whammy should be able to handle this. Especially if RCA has direct connection to the mosfet output stage (like headphone jack has).
Have an idea to maybe install two sets of RCA out to Whammy. One power amp has 5k input impedance which is quite low. Whammy should be able to handle this. Especially if RCA has direct connection to the mosfet output stage (like headphone jack has).
An easy way to try something out is by using two standard subwoofer cables (I now understand your problem with length) and extend one arm of each with a standard Male to Female RCA cable. Always handy to have lying around, and besides the option of buying them they are easy to make yourself.
Yes, it should be easy to make a DIY-version.
With this one standard interconnects can be used:
Y-LINK 1RCA-2RCA M-F BLUE 25CM
It seems not many preamp manufactures makes 2 x RCA out?
I will think about it for my next DIY preamp. It can be useful.
With this one standard interconnects can be used:
Y-LINK 1RCA-2RCA M-F BLUE 25CM
It seems not many preamp manufactures makes 2 x RCA out?
I will think about it for my next DIY preamp. It can be useful.
Until I get the Supra Y-cables it look like this (not very elegant) but it works.
It was nice to get the pre-amp back in the system. The STA-1000D amp has 5k input impedance and it seems the DAC has 650 ohm so it had a hard time driving both 1000D and VFET amp. Some distorsion at treble level. Running DAC at fixed level out into preamp made wonders.
The curtain behind is to dampen room resonances a bit. It helps....
It was nice to get the pre-amp back in the system. The STA-1000D amp has 5k input impedance and it seems the DAC has 650 ohm so it had a hard time driving both 1000D and VFET amp. Some distorsion at treble level. Running DAC at fixed level out into preamp made wonders.
The curtain behind is to dampen room resonances a bit. It helps....
Attachments
I was concerned about isolating the amps from each other with a y cable, also worried the preamp may not be able drive both amps and or be able to match gain. First Watt mentioned a B2 I believe for this purpose but have never seen one in the wild. Probably not difficult to make just don't know how.
Bill
Bill
Those Supra RCA cables look nice! I have a few Y-splitters, but I've always used them just for the split, and then connected longer cables to the ends to get where I need to go.
My preamp, the Schiit Freya+, has two sets of RCA outputs. I'm using one of the secondary set for my subwoofer. I agree, it should be more common.
I would assume a Y-splitter would split the gain equally between the two amps, unless it was not built well. There are probably subtleties to the dynamics of two different amps putting slightly different loads on the preamp at the same time, but I don't know enough to comment. Hopefully someone smarter comes along.
My preamp, the Schiit Freya+, has two sets of RCA outputs. I'm using one of the secondary set for my subwoofer. I agree, it should be more common.
I would assume a Y-splitter would split the gain equally between the two amps, unless it was not built well. There are probably subtleties to the dynamics of two different amps putting slightly different loads on the preamp at the same time, but I don't know enough to comment. Hopefully someone smarter comes along.
The Y-splitters are 25 cm long so additional cables are needed at the "fork-end" to reach the two amps. I had a short 50 cm cable for the bass-amp and use a 75 cm cable for the VFET amp. The output levels out of the splitter are the same. Bass-amp has input level control so level can be adjusted. I did that using a DMM and a sine test tone. I measured voltage out of VFET amp with speaker connected and adjusted bass-amp to same level (via the input level controls).
The SS-II preamp has power mosfets as outputs and can drive a 32 ohm head phone (so it has a lot of "drive power"). However to the RCA out 100 ohm resistors are installed. I wrote a mail to Pete Millett (the designer) and asked if a 5k load was ok. His answer was it should be fine "as-is" but I could lower the 100 ohm to 22 or 10 ohm. I have considered that. Pete like a small resistor to ensure stability in a capacitive load.
It works very well "as is". Before the installation.....if you had very bass heavy music a small low power amp will sound "compressed" at high output level but not now. You get more punch in the low end and it can play "insane" loud without sounding "compressed". I can now enjoy the VFET more as it has optimum working conditions.
The SS-II preamp has power mosfets as outputs and can drive a 32 ohm head phone (so it has a lot of "drive power"). However to the RCA out 100 ohm resistors are installed. I wrote a mail to Pete Millett (the designer) and asked if a 5k load was ok. His answer was it should be fine "as-is" but I could lower the 100 ohm to 22 or 10 ohm. I have considered that. Pete like a small resistor to ensure stability in a capacitive load.
It works very well "as is". Before the installation.....if you had very bass heavy music a small low power amp will sound "compressed" at high output level but not now. You get more punch in the low end and it can play "insane" loud without sounding "compressed". I can now enjoy the VFET more as it has optimum working conditions.
I haven't good experience using bi-amp.
I want to ask.I want to drive a full rang speaker and a woofer.
Is it necessary to use same type amplifiers or two different amplifiers do the jpb?
I want to ask.I want to drive a full rang speaker and a woofer.
Is it necessary to use same type amplifiers or two different amplifiers do the jpb?
The idea is to have a powerful amp for the woofer and a small "delicate" amp for the rest. In my case the system is 3-way and woofer handles below 170 Hz. If the split is at the midrange it would not work as nice.....as you need the "delicate" amp for midrange.
A good track to test if amp has enough "drive capacity" to control the woofer is this one if you play it at realistic "concert level".
Steve Smith: Drums Stop, No Good:
Drums Stop, No Good - YouTube
If speakers has a "non-horn loaded" woofer like 15" (4" voice coil) in my system amps like ACA, VFET, 300B SE shows their limits in bass control. It made a difference to let a powerful class D amp drive the woofers.
You can try it but find the track in high res somewhere (e.g. Tidal).
For acoustic classical string music it does not matter.
M2X has quite good bass control. Better than ACA, VFET and 300B SE.
Steve Smith: Drums Stop, No Good:
Drums Stop, No Good - YouTube
If speakers has a "non-horn loaded" woofer like 15" (4" voice coil) in my system amps like ACA, VFET, 300B SE shows their limits in bass control. It made a difference to let a powerful class D amp drive the woofers.
You can try it but find the track in high res somewhere (e.g. Tidal).
For acoustic classical string music it does not matter.
M2X has quite good bass control. Better than ACA, VFET and 300B SE.