[ormo]

I have Aragon Aurum preamp and two Palladium amplifiers: these amps have two sets of speaker terminals: I have two identical pairs of KEF 105 speakers: I was discouraged from using both pairs together by an audio expert  so have not used them together for ten years or longer - in my old small listening room it sounded rather overwhelming.
 Is there any valid reason to use only one pair speakers as opposed to two- I have not tried bi-amping and think this would be too complicated for me to undertake: I now have moved and have a much larger listerning area: I connected both pairs up today and first listen sounds impressive though a different experience sonically: any comments would be appreciated -should I stick with just the one pair?           thanks

[_scotty_]

ormo,anytime you can use two drivers to do the job you have the potential to lower all forms of distortion by as much as 75%.  The bottom line is if it sounds good to you when you use both pairs of loudspeakers you should continue to listen this way.
A tip for better imaging is to place one of your speakers upside down immediately on top of the other one. This evens out the room loading in the bass and should also result in a bigger and better defined soudstage.
Scotty

[ormo]

thanks, Scotty. Looking at the manufacturers info for the Palladiums, it says each amplifier  comes with 2 sets of parallel connected five-way binding posts to facilitate bi-wiring of speakers which seems to imply that biwiring is the only reason to use the other binding posts and that noone would be foolish enough to consider connecting two sets of speaders to each amplifier.I would guess there must be some reason it is not done, - I have researched widely on the internet but found nothing on attaching two sets of speakers in one system.
The KEF 105s were very highly regarded by some back in the late 70's/early 80s and weigh 80 lbs apiece and with the configuration could not be safely upended. Your comments and any others are much appreciated: thanks

[Tweaker]

You could place them back to back and have a bipolar configuration. Used to be a popular thing to do with one of the old Allison (I think) model speakers. Assuming you can figure out if it's safe hook both up, of course.

[rosconey]

if you run 2 different speakers from one amp wont you double the impedence may burn your amps up if they cany handle a real hard load-

bi-amping is a whole different idea-

i wouldnt advise it myself

[ormo]

thanks
this is getting a bit technical for me and  I am not sure  the impedance would change if I am running one channel of one speaker off a each binding post - ie the four binding posts on the left side are connected to the positive and negative channels of the two left side speakers: if its safe to use both binding posts for biwiring would it not be safe to connect each binding post to a single channel of a speaker? Since I dont have any technical knowledge I really have no idea
The specs for the Palladium say it provides 100 watts continuous into 8 OHMs   or 600 watts continuous into 4 OHMs. The KEF 105s are rated 8 OHMs. The volume from the speakers does not appear to have changed at all since I started running both sets of speakers and the amps dont seem to be running too hot - they always generate a fair amount of heat. Am still confused but obviously dont want to fry my amplifiers - though there is no caveat in the manufacturers info that says dont connect a second set of speakers.
Your comments are appreciated-thanks

[avahifi]

Two sets of identical speakers connected in parallel (as you appear to have them) will work fine and will share power, but they (8 ohm speakers) will now be a 4 ohm load for your amplifier, probably still OK given your amp specs and that you won't have to run the amp very hard.

The advice to stack them, bottom one right side up, upper one upside down on top probably will work well too.

If you like the results, no problems.

Frank Van Alstine

[avahifi]

Whoops, KEF 105s had an irregular top shape as I remember, can't stack them then. Not sure then how to deploy them most effectively.

Frank

[ormo]

very many thanks, Frank and all , for taking the time and effort to respond
ORMO

[pjanda1]

Back to back might be interesting.  You could experiment with both bi- and dipolar radiation (push-push and push-pull, in and out of phase).  They would have to be a good distance from the wall.

Side by side presents some problems.  You'll have massive comb filtering.  You'll also have some big horizontal dispersion problems.  That's not to say that if you like it, you aren't allowed to do it.

You could set the additional pair up behind you.  You sure wouldn't have the tradional audiophile soundstage/imaging.  It may be fun though.  You might run the back two at a lower level.  Lots of sound all around.  You could also use a surround processor with a phantom center setting, or just use one as a center channel.

[ormo]

thanks, PJANDA 1
unfortunately in my apartment I can't arrange back to back without the stereo taking over my whole life: comb filtering - yikes! - not sure how this might affect the sound.  The KEF 105s are interesting speakers inasmuch as the woofer/tweeter section can swivel side to side and one can also change the elevation ie aim the sound not only side to side but up/down where you want. From what I surmise I need to have all of the audio signals arriving at the ear at the same time and with correct positioning and aiming of the four woofer /tweeter sections this is acheivable: I think I read that that it doesnt much matter where the base comes from so I have been concentrating rather on the mid and upper range signals arriving together. Certainly all speakers need to be far away from the rear wall. Hopefully I am on the right track; the results so far are actually very impressive and the sound is  full and sumptuous. I guess only time will tell if this set up becomes fatiguing or proves unsatisfactory in other ways: very many thanks for your comments.