Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
Bridging to mono using XLR connections
#363941 01/17/12 05:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
S
sauniq Offline OP
buff
OP Offline
buff
S
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
I am looking for advice on how to correctly bridge my amplifiers to mono

I have 2 simaudio w5.3amplifiers that I would like to bridge to mono and have each amp is powering one M80. I want to keep my system balanced using XLR cables if possible. Does anyone know how this is done.

I am also considering biwiring vertically and horizontally, anyone have experience that you could pass along what you have learned in your process.

I appreciate any insight you can offer..and thanks


MoonW5.3's
MoonP7 Pre
Moon300D DAC
Marantz AV8003
HSUVTF3 MK3 Sub
Axiom LFR 1100
AxiomVP180
Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
sauniq #363942 01/17/12 05:49 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
J
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
J
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 10,420
Not sure about how, but be sure to check and see if those amps are brideable with a 4 ohm load. Most amps are only bridgeable with 8ohm loads.


Jason
M80 v2
VP160 v3
QS8 v2
PB13 Ultra
Denon 3808
Samsung 85" Q70
Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
sauniq #363945 01/17/12 06:51 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
David, I waded through considerable nonsense on the Simaudio site and a little bit more in the W5.3 manual to try to get an answer. The details given are very skimpy, but apparently they have available for purchase a bridging cable which would invert the polarity of the voltage in one channel so that it doesn't meet head-on with the voltage in the other channel when they reach the speaker. It suggests that the result would be a maximum of 700 watts into an 8 ohm load and makes no claim as to 4 ohm loads. Perhaps you should contact Simaudio or at least the dealer for more specific information.

The insight I'll offer at this point is first, forget the bi-wiring(aka buy-wiring), as this is electrically meaningless. As to bridging, this does indeed increase the maximum power available, but the 350 watt into 4 ohm spec in normal operation is already more than enough to drive M80s to beyond safe(to your hearing)listening levels.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
JohnK #363948 01/17/12 07:23 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
I agree with John, i have M60's with 250W @8 ohm, and 500W@4ohm... I have never needed more than the 250W, i had a marantz mm9000 @ 135W @8ohm, i needed more power due to driving the L/R/C channels on that amp into the clipping region durring movies, that amp has clipping LED's on it... I bring up the 4ohm rating due to the M60's dropping to 6ohms in some frequency ranges...


Why do you think you need more power? if you are not driving the amp into the clipping region, i would say you do not need more power..

without looking through the instruction manual like John did.. it would seem like you would have to buy a cable from them.. From my experience, amps that are designed to be bridged, will have 1 input labeled "bridged input" or a bridge selector switch. With these amps, you use the positive from one channel, and the negative from the other channel.... Your amp does not have either of these configurations.. but their website specifically says bridged @700W. However, they do not give an impedance rating for the 700W rating.

I would mirror Johns recommendation, call the manufacture to verify, the last thing you want to do is not ask the question and fry your amp.....

Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
dakkon #364057 01/18/12 04:53 AM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
S
sauniq Offline OP
buff
OP Offline
buff
S
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
Many thanks.

I called Simaudio today and was reassured that the amps will do 2 ohms no problem with bridged in mono. They would not really elaborate on the connects except to say that I could purchase at 350$ a set of xlr cables that are single to double ended or for a better description "Y" cable.

I was hoping to do it on the cheap but they would not reveal if the cables were the same as what musicians and commercial audio companies sell.

You are all correct to say that I do not need any additional power. Using my preamp and amp with M80 is a very rewarding experience and I have never come close to running out of power. I just happened to see a great deal on the internet and refused to let it pass!! Owning 2 of these fine amps will probably entice me to dust off a set of VMPS speakers that I have not used for a decade or so. The M80 just happen to be the speaker I use in my main system…..so I still have to figure out if I can get away on a less expensive option to purchasing the cable from Simaudio and how in the end it will work out.


MoonW5.3's
MoonP7 Pre
Moon300D DAC
Marantz AV8003
HSUVTF3 MK3 Sub
Axiom LFR 1100
AxiomVP180
Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
sauniq #364058 01/18/12 05:06 AM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
what did they say about wiring to the speaker in bridged mode? if they told you to "biwire" the speaker from both stereo outputs, i bet their "350$" cable is a simple Y cable as you elude to.. Simply supplying the same signal to both channels..... if this is the case, then you could buy a pro XLR cable and be just fine.

Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
dakkon #364114 01/18/12 06:16 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
S
sauniq Offline OP
buff
OP Offline
buff
S
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 43
After reading the last posts I called again to find out about wiring, and it appears to be right channel speaker post + to speaker + and left channel post + to speaker -

So just use the two positive posts on each amp

Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
sauniq #364135 01/18/12 07:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,863
hrm, that is interesting... i don't know what to tell you man... To bad they are so hush hush, about the design of their 350$ cable...... i can guarantee you that their cable has 10-30$ worth of materials, and would ve quite simple to wire up, if you had the schematic......

Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
sauniq #364196 01/19/12 02:53 AM
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
shareholder in the making
Offline
shareholder in the making
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 10,654
Yes, David; that's the wiring shown in the diagram in the manual. As Alex mentioned above, however, amplifiers which are designed internally for bridging use one + post and one - post to send the two signals in opposite polarity, as required. The W5.3 obviously doesn't have the internal circuitry for this and uses an external bridging adapter(which certainly isn't just a straight Y-adapter)to create the needed polarity inversion. $350 is an outrageous price, which somehow doesn't really surprise me.

As I commented in my previous reply, there appears to be no good reason for you to do this.


-----------------------------------

Enjoy the music, not the equipment.


Re: Bridging to mono using XLR connections
JohnK #364239 01/19/12 10:39 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,291
J
connoisseur
Offline
connoisseur
J
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,291
.

Last edited by J. B.; 01/19/12 10:40 AM.

Moderated by  alan, Amie, Andrew, axiomadmin, Brent, Debbie, Ian, Jc 

Link Copied to Clipboard

Need Help Graphic

Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics24,940
Posts442,457
Members15,616
Most Online2,082
Jan 22nd, 2020
Top Posters
Ken.C 18,044
pmbuko 16,441
SirQuack 13,840
CV 12,077
MarkSJohnson 11,458
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 145 guests, and 4 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newsletter Signup
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.4