BigRedX Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 Up to now I've been running a bi-amp system, but as I no longer have any need for different effects on the highs and lows this setup has become redundant and I have suspected less efficient than just running both cabs full range. This weekend I made up a Y splitter lead and ran both channels of my power amp from the model output of my BassPod with the bi-amping off, and was much more impressed with the sound (and was able to turn the power amp down to get the same apparent volume) now that effects needs are far more simple. So the question is: Is it OK to run the power amp this way or should I be using something a bit more sophisticated to split the mono out into both channels of the power amp? And if so what? Something active or passive with transformers? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stewart Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 I'm not familiar with the Pod, but my guess is would run at least four or five power amps - most preamp/line driver stages would cope fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obbm Posted June 24, 2007 Share Posted June 24, 2007 It's fine to run two channels using a Y splitter cord. Some power amps, like QSC have an input selector which routes channel 1 input to both channels. Some have a loop out from each channel so you can daisy cain them together. At the end of the day it will dpend on the input impedance of the power amp. If you parallel too many then you will get a loss in level and frequency response. If you want to run lots of power amps then get an audio distribution amplifier. They split the signal, adjust the level and provide buffered outputs. No need for transformers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 25, 2007 Author Share Posted June 25, 2007 Ta for the replies. I'm only ever going to be running 2 channels of Power amp from a single Pod channel so what I've made up should be fine. I was worried because there's been situations in the past where not buffering the split in some way affected the tone on one side of the split, but that was when I was running into two completely different devices (this was a guitar set up where I was running into 2 completely different effects/amp systems). I guess that both sides of a stereo power amp should present the same, which is why I can get away with it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neilb Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 (edited) Your power amp may have one of the inputs marked as "mono". Just feed the O/P from the pod to this input, select "mono" on the power amp and each channel will take this mono signal. (What OBBM said in essence!!) Alternatively, just use one side of your power amp, keep the other idle for a spare incase of shutdowns etc. May work. Neil Edited June 25, 2007 by neilb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Funk Posted June 25, 2007 Share Posted June 25, 2007 Like two of the guys have already said, a lot of stereo power amps can be run in dual mono, where you send a mono signal into Input 1 and that gets fed to both channels of the power amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lfalex v1.1 Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 Can the said power amp be bridged? I ran my QSC PLX1202 in bridged mode to great effect. Until it died. Which was (of course) unrelated. That was a good month. Pre-amp died (valve) Power amp died (solid state). I'm taking up the recorder, now! I still can't afford replacements... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted June 26, 2007 Author Share Posted June 26, 2007 Had a bit more of a play last night. I hadn't considered that only connecting one input might send the single signal to both channels but on my amp it doesn't. This one doesn't allowing bridging either, although to be honest I like the idea of being able to control the volume of each cab separately as it give me more flexibility for on-stage layout and monitoring. Thanks for everyone's input, put for now I'll stick with the Y lead (although I might ask OBBM if he can make me up a better lead than the one I've done myself). It all works and I'm not damaging the amp or compromising my tone and I've definitely got a much better "standard" bass sound now I'm no longer dealing in complicated effects routing and therefore don't have to bi-amp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tengu Posted June 26, 2007 Share Posted June 26, 2007 What power amp do you have? I have done just this thing with both a Behringer (spit!) Europower, which requires dip switches to be re-set on the back, and my Peavey CS800S. The latter has a through jack socket on the back that you can connect to the input of channel b. I suppose that it is essentially performing the same purpose as your y-cable but is a bit neater. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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