What's the best configuration of HR7? by Glenn Phoenix
ACTIVE BI-AMP
SINGLE AMP WITH HLX 400
ACTIVE QUAD AMP WITH HR-X CROSSOVER
Well, each has its advantages.
Active Bi-amp: Of course, requires a minimum of 2 amplifier channels per speaker, so amp requirements are double–although there is some thought that because the load of the speaker is less without the HLX 400, that the amplifier capability can be less. The presence of the MRX-2-400 active crossover in the system allows some adjustment of L.F. versus H.F. level. Less high-level crosover sound but more active electronics in this version is a sonic trade-off that only the listener can evaluate. They are different even though we do our best to minimize the sonic fingerprint of each. Optionally, this version can be passively tri-amped (more block diagrams available).
Single Amp with HLX-400: Can be powered with just one stereo amplifier (bi-wired speaker cables recommended). Optimally it can be passive bi-amped (we have block diagrams if needed) for higher resolution. Single Amp operation allows the use of a very high quality amplifier (say Jadis JA-800 or Boulder 2000) at the start and upgrade to a 2nd set for passive bi-amplification as budget allows.
Active quad-amp with HR-X crossover: This system will have the least high level networks (although still some driver correction pats in speaker cabinet) and the maximum number of active circuits. Again, we do as much as is practical to minimize the sonic impact of both. The speaker requires the 4-way active crosSover and 4 amplifier channels per speaker. There is no single amp or bi-amp mode for this version. Four stereo amplifiers or 8 mono amplifiers should have equal gain if possible although there is a control range of about 6 dB for each of the 4 outputs on the signal boards of the HR-X 4-way, 2 channel active crossover. Connecting 4 amplifiers (or plus the active crossover, pre-amp and source components into such a revealing system can be quite challenging, and it best done by someone with patience and experience. The other 2 versions are a bit less sensitive to system issues like cabling, routing, grounding and component placement.
All 3 systems can be double-wired (spades and bananas) from amp to speaker for additional resolution.
