Sound System Setup
Speaker Guide | Full Range Speakers | Subwoofers | Speaker/Amp System Setup
Loudspeakers and amplifiers can be connected into a system in several different configurations, based on the needs of the application. The most common methods are single-amped, biamped, or triamped.
- Single Amp: A single amp setup is the simplest method of powering a loudspeaker. A single amplifier is connected to a two-way speaker, and the input signal is split to the different components (compression driver and woofer) via the internal passive crossover. The single amplifier's power is split between the two components.
- Biamped: In a biamped system, two amplifiers are used to power two components of a single, two way speaker, the woofer and compression driver. The input signal to the amplifiers have been crossed-over by an external, two-way active crossover. The internal, passive crossover in the speaker has been bypassed. With separate amplifiers powering individual components, the speaker works more efficiently. A single amp's power is not being split between two components.
- Triamped: In a triamped system, three amplifiers are powering three components of a three-way speaker. The input signals of the amplifiers have been crossed-over by an external, three way active crossover. The three way speaker works very efficiently because separate amps power separate components that reproduce very specific ranges of frequencies.
Speaker Systems
To tie everything together, now we can understand how to describe a full system. The following are the most common configurations of amplifiers, speakers, and subwoofers:
- Single Amped, Two-Way - Two-way speaker, with single amp for horn and woofer
- Biamped, Two Way - Two-way speaker, with two amps - one amp for the horn, one amp for the woofer
- Biamped, Three Way with Sub - Two-way speaker, subwoofer, and two amps - one amp for the high-pak, one for the sub.
- Triamped, Three Way with Sub - Two-way speaker, subwoofer, and three amps - one amp for the horn, one for the mid-range woofers, and one for the subwoofer.
- Biamped, Four-way with sub - Three way speaker, subwoofer, and two amps - one for the three-way speaker, one for the subwoofers.
