Bi-Wiring And Bi-Amping Loudspeakers; Beforeyou Start; Bi-Wiringyour Loudspeakers; Bi-Ampingyour System - Arcam C30, P35 Handbook

Bi-wiring and bi-amping loudspeakers

BEFOREYOU START

WARNING: Do not make any connections to your amplifier while
it is switched on or connected to the mains supply.
Before switching on please check all connections thoroughly, making
sure bare wires or cables are not touching the amplifier in the wrong
places (which could cause short circuits) and you have connected
positive (+) to positive and negative (–) to negative.
Always ensure that the volume control on your amplifier is set to
minimum before starting these procedures.

BI-WIRINGYOUR LOUDSPEAKERS

Bi-wiring improves the sound of your system because it divides the
high and low frequency signal currents into separate speaker cables.
This avoids signal distortions arising from the high and low frequency
currents interacting with one another within a single cable, as in
conventionally wired systems.
You will need:
Speakers – with four input terminals each: these will be marked
(High Frequency) and (Low Frequency).
LF
Loudspeaker cables – two pairs of cables per loudspeaker (which may
be joined at the amplifier end if your amplifier has only one pair of
output terminals per channel). Or, a suitably terminated cable set (a
loom, probably prepared by your dealer and capable of being used for
bi-wiring in one length).
How to bi-wire loudspeakers
1. Remove the terminal links on the rear of your loudspeakers
WARNING:This step is essential or damage to your amplifier
may result which is not covered under warranty.
2. Connect the cables as shown in the diagram below, ensuring
correct polarity at all times.
Arcam P35 power amplifier
SP2
+ –
R
SP1
HF
Right
+ –
speaker
LF
Recommended bi-wiring configuration
HF
SP2
+ L –
SP1
HF
Left
+ –
speaker
LF
13

BI-AMPINGYOUR SYSTEM

The performance of your system can be further enhanced over that
achieved with bi-wiring, by extending the principle one stage further
to include separate amplification for the low and high frequency drive
units in each loudspeaker enclosure.
Connect the integrated amplifier to the high frequency (
and connect the power amplifier to the low frequency (
You will need:
Speakers – with four input terminals each (as with bi-wiring): these will
be marked (High Frequency) and
HF
Four channels of amplification – for example two P35 stereo amplifiers
or four P1 monoblock amplifiers.
Loudspeaker cables – two pairs of cables per loudspeaker or a suitably
terminated cable set (a loom, probably prepared by your dealer and
capable of being used for bi-amping in one length).
Interconnect cables – one pair of high quality interconnect cables.
How to set up a bi-amped system
1. Remove the terminal links on the rear of your loudspeakers.
WARNING:This step is essential or damage to your amplifier
may result which is not covered under warranty.
2. Connect the cables as shown in the diagram below, ensuring
correct polarity at all times.
3. Use the interconnect cables to connect the
the C30 to the corresponding
amplifier. If using the P1 amplifier, it may be necessary to "daisy-
chain" the interconnect cables. See page 11 for more details on
doing this.
Arcam P35 power amplifier
+ –
R
–
+
HF
Right
speaker
–
LF
–
+
+ –
R
Arcam P35 power amplifier
Recommended bi-amping configuration
) terminals
HF
) terminals.
LF
(Low Frequency).
LF
sockets of
PRE OUT
sockets of the power
AUDIO IN
+ –
L
+ –
HF
Left
speaker
LF
+ –
+ –
L