Bi-Wiring And Bi-Amping Loudspeakers; Before You Start - Important Information; Bi-Wiring Your Loudspeakers; Bi-Amping Your System - Arcam AVR250 Handbook

Bi-wiring and bi-amping loudspeakers

Bi-wiring improves the sound of your system as it divides the high and low frequency signal currents into
separate speaker cables. 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 amplifi cation for the low
and high frequency drive units in each loudspeaker enclosure. This is called "bi-amping".
Before you start – important information!
1. Ensure that the volume control is set to minimum before starting these procedures.
2. Do not make any connections to your AVR250 while it is switched on or connected to the mains
3. After connecting the loudspeakers, but before switching on the AVR250, please check all

Bi-wiring your loudspeakers

Bi-wiring avoids signal distortions arising from the high and low frequency currents interacting
with one another within a single cable, as occurs in conventionally wired systems.
You will need:
Speakers – with four input terminals each: the terminals will be marked
Loudspeaker cables – two pairs of cables per loudspeaker.
How to bi-wire loudspeakers
1. Remove the terminal links on the rear of your loudspeakers.
2. Connect the cables as shown in the diagram, ensuring correct polarity at all times.

Bi-amping your system

Note:
In order to bi-amplify your speakers, your speakers will need to be bi-wirable (have positive and
negative terminals for both high frequency (
speakers are bi-wirable, ensure that the links between the
WARNING: This step is essential or damage to your AVR250 may result which is not covered
under warranty.
HIGH QUALITY VIDEO IN
GROUND
RS232 CONTROL
FR FL CEN RS
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+ –
HF
LF
+ –
Bi-amping using the surround back channels of the
AVR250
AVR250 (only the front left and right speakers are
E-28
shown, for clarity)
supply.
connections thoroughly, making sure bare wires or cables are not touching the AVR250 in the
wrong places (which could cause short circuits) and that you have connected positive (+) to
positive and negative (–) to negative.
+ and –) and (Low Frequency + and –).
LF
NOTE: If you do not remove the shorting links from the speaker terminals, the speakers
will still be single-wired!
Bi-amping using the AVR250 Bi-amping using the AVR250
If channels 6 and 7 of your system are not in use (i.e., If channels 6 and 7 of your system are not in use (i.e.,
AC
you have a system comprised of a maximum of fi ve speakers, you have a system comprised of a maximum of fi ve speakers,
INLET
OUT
excluding the subwoofer), these spare amplifi cation channels may excluding the subwoofer), these spare amplifi cation channels may
be used to bi-amplify the front left and right speakers of your be used to bi-amplify the front left and right speakers of your
SAT
system. system.
230
Follow these steps: Follow these steps:
1. Remove the terminal links on the rear of your loudspeakers. 1. Remove the terminal links on the rear of your loudspeakers.
SPEAKER
GROUND IMPEDANCE
LIFT
LS RSB LSB
2. Connect the cables as shown in the diagram below, ensuring 2. Connect the cables as shown in the diagram below, ensuring
correct polarity at all times. correct polarity at all times.
3. Ensure that the 3. Ensure that the
"EX Settings" is set to "EX Settings" is set to
to do this.) to do this.)
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+ –
HF
LF
+ –
) and low frequency ( ) information). If your
HF LF
and terminals are removed.
HF LF
WARNING WARNING: This step is essential or damage
to your AVR250 may result which is not to your AVR250 may result which is not
covered under warranty. covered under warranty.
USE CHANNELS 6+7
BIAMP L+R
(High Frequency
HF
AVR250 (only one speaker
is shown, for clarity)
for setting in Basic menu 6
. (See page 13 for details of how
AC
INLET
OUT
SAT
230
SPEAKER
GROUND IMPEDANCE
GROUND
LIFT
RS LS RSB LSB
+ –
HF
LF
+ –
Bi-wiring using the