MartinLogan Ascent LoudSpeaker - Manual (Page 6)

Figure 3. Bi-Wire Connection. One Channel shown.
Amplifier
speaker output
Jumper clips
removed
Please take note of the jumper clips installed under the
binding posts. These clips attach the high and low frequency
sections of the crossover together. Leaving these in place,
connect the (+) wire from your amplifier to either red
binding post and the (-) wire from your amplifier to either
black binding post (See Figure 2).
Bi-Wire Connection
This method of connection replaces the jumper clips installed
under the binding posts with individual runs of speaker
wire from your amplifier. This doubles the signal carrying
conductors from the amplifier to the speaker, thus direct-
coupling each portion of the crossover to the amplifier.
To bi-wire you must first loosen the binding posts and
remove the jumper clips. Connect one set of wires to the
upper set of binding posts which connect to the panel of
the Ascent. Then connect a second set of wires to the lower
binding posts which connect to the woofer. Next, connect
both sets of wires to the appropriate terminals on your
amplifier. Please take care to connect both (+) wires to
the (+) amplifier terminals and both (-) wires to the (-)
amplifier terminals. This is known as a parallel connection
(See Figure 3).
For those of you that desire ultimate performance, the Ascent
may be passively bi-amplified using the existing internal
passive crossover elements.
WARNING! Only after the jumper clips are removed
may you connect individual runs of speaker cable
from your amplifiers to the high pass (ESL) and
low pass (WOOFER) Signal Input binding posts.
Damage will occur to your amplifiers if the jumper
clips are not removed.
This method takes the bi-wiring concept one step further.
You will have a dedicated channel of amplification directly
connected to the high and low pass sections of the Ascent
crossover. There are two different methods for bi-amping
with two stereo amplifiers. The first and most common is
referred to as Horizontal Bi-amping. The second method is
referred to as Vertical Bi-amping. With either method you
may use two stereo amplifiers or four mono amplifiers, or two
mono amplifiers and one stereo amplifier. Get the idea?
With either form of passive bi-amplification, your preampli-
fier must have dual outputs. If your preamplifier is not so
equipped, you must either purchase or construct a “Y” adapter.
Horizontal Passive Bi-Amplification
Horizontal bi-amping allows you to use two different types,
models or brands of amplifiers (i.e. tubes on top, transistor
on the bottom). However, we recommend that you use
two identical amplifiers (i.e. same brand and model).
If you must use two different amplifiers, it is essential that
they have the same gain or that one of the two have adjustable
gain so that you can match their gain characteristics.
If the amplifiers of choice do not have the same gain
characteristics, then a sonic imbalance will occur.
Single-Wire Connection
Figure 2. Single-Wire Connection. One Channel shown.
A
S C E N T TM
Loud Speaker
Amplifier
Jumper clips
in place,
full-range
speaker output
Passive Bi-Amplification
A
S C E N T TM
Loud Speaker
ESL
Woofer
ESL
Woofer Bass Control
-3db
flat
Bass Control
-3db
flat
6 Operations