Bi-amp Guide

To setup a Bi-amp solution, as easy as 123 & affordable !!!

This guide explains the monoblock, horizontal bi-amp and vertical bi-amp configurations described in the original Trends Audio BA-10 guide, including connections for preamplifiers with one or two outputs.

Understanding bi-amplification

Many speakers have separate high-frequency and low-frequency terminals, usually linked by metal bridging plates or jumper cables for normal single-wired operation. Removing these links allows the high- and low-frequency sections to be driven separately.

Bi-wiring uses separate speaker cables connected to the same amplifier output. Bi-amplification uses separate amplifier channels to drive the speaker sections.

Trends BA-10 system components

The original BA-10 Bi-amp Audio System described in the source includes:

Two Trends TA-10.2P Class-T power amplifier bodies.
One Trends PA-10.1D Tube Headphone/Pre Amplifier with two outputs.
Two pairs of Trends CQ-121 audio cables.
One Trends 7A AC/DC dual power adaptor.

The BA-10 Lite configurations described in the source use either two TA-10.2P SE amplifier bodies with a dual power adaptor, or two complete TA-10.2P SE amplifier sets with individual power adaptors. A suitable preamplifier and connecting cables are required.

1. Monoblock setup

The original guide provides two monoblock connection examples using the Trends PA-10.1D preamplifier with two outputs. Refer to the diagrams for the connections.

Example 1

Example 2

2. Horizontal and vertical bi-amp setup

Horizontal bi-amplification: one stereo amplifier drives the low-frequency sections of both speakers, while a second stereo amplifier drives the high-frequency sections.

Vertical bi-amplification: one stereo amplifier is dedicated to each speaker, with one channel driving the low-frequency section and the other driving the high-frequency section.

Connection procedure

Make sure the entire system is powered OFF.
Remove the bi-wire bridges from each speaker before making the bi-amp connections. This separates the low-pass filter (LPF) and high-pass filter (HPF) crossover sections.
Connect each TA-10.2P amplifier channel to its respective speaker section as shown in the appropriate diagram below.
Set the amplifier level controls so that the signals reach the speaker terminals at the same power-volume level. With identical TA-10.2P amplifiers, the original guide recommends starting with matching level-control settings. Adjust levels according to your listening preference and the speaker drivers' relative efficiency.

Horizontal bi-amp connection diagram

Vertical bi-amp connection diagram

Source note: If the amplifiers are not identical, the original guide suggests using the more powerful amplifier for the low-frequency sections and the cleaner-sounding amplifier for the high-frequency sections.

3. Using a preamplifier with two outputs

For the BA-10 Lite setup with a two-output preamplifier, the original guide lists:

One Trends BA-10 Lite Bi-amp Audio System.
One preamplifier with two outputs.
Two pairs of audio cables.

Horizontal setup with a two-output preamplifier

Vertical setup with a two-output preamplifier

4. Using a preamplifier with a single output

For a preamplifier with one output, such as the Trends PA-10 Tube Headphone/Preamp, the original guide uses an RCA splitter audio cable (Y-adaptor) to provide the required connections.

The components listed are:

One Trends BA-10 Lite Bi-amp Audio System.
One preamplifier with a single output.
One pair of splitter audio cables.

The source identifies the Trends CQ-127 RCA Splitter Audiophile Cable and Trends CQ-207 RCA Splitter Audiophile Silver Cable as splitter-cable options.