Arcam Alpha 9 Handbook

BI-AMPING
The performance of your system can be further enhanced over
that achieved with bi-wiring, by extending the same principal
one stage further to include separate amplification for the low
and high frequency speaker drive units as well as separate
loudspeaker cables. This is known as biamplifying, or bi-amping
for short.
To implement bi-amping therefore requires four amplification
channels. In practice this is done by using two stereo
amplifiers; when one of these is an integrated amplifier it is best
to use this drive the high frequency (HF) units whilst the
outboard power amplifier is used to drive the low frequency (LF)
units.
We recommend that you use identical amplifiers to avoid
potential imbalances in sonic performance and sensitivities.
The Alpha 9/9P combination is ideal, as is the Delta 290/290P.
It is however possible to mix the Alpha 9 and Delta 290 range
of amplifiers.
HOW TO SET UP A BI-AMPED SYSTEM
1. R e m o ve the shorting links from each of the red and
black terminal pairs on the rear of your loudspeakers.
THIS IS ESSENTIAL OR DAMAGE TO YOUR
AMPLIFIERS MAY RESULT WHICH IS NOT COVERED
UNDER WARRANTY.
BI-AMPING YOUR LOUDSPEAKERS
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
POWER AMPLIFIER
2. You will need two lengths of loudspeaker cable (or a
suitably terminated cable capable of being used for bi¬
wiring in one length) and one stereo amplifier per
frequency band.
3. Connect your system as per the diagram opposite
ensuring correct polarity at all times. The positive (+)
connections on the loudspeaker must go to the positive
(+) connections on the amplifier and the negative (-)
connections on the right loudspeaker must go to the
negative (-) connections on the right channel of the
amplifier etc. You also need to make a connection from
the preamp out sockets of your integrated amplifier, or
preamplifier, to the power amp in sockets of the power
amp.
ADDING AN ALPHA 9P TO AN EXISTING ALPHA 9
INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
If you are using an Alpha 9, an Alpha 9P can be added to bi-
amplify a pair of bi-wireable loudspeakers. This will reap
substantial improvements in sound quality if the following
advice is observed.
■ Always switch on the Alpha 9 and allow It to stabilise
(indicator light turns green) before switching on the
Alpha 9P.
■ The Alpha 9 and Alpha 9P power amplifier are placed on
separate shelves.
Stacking the units on top of each other will reduce the
sound quality slightly. It will also reduce ventilation and
consequently the continuous power handling capability.
■ The existing Alpha 9 should be used to drive the
loudspeakers' HF (high frequency) units. The new Alpha
9P Is utilised for the LF (bass) drivers, as shown in the
wiring diagram below.
■ At the end of a listening session the Alpha 9P should
always be turned off first.
■ High quality interconnect cables should be used
between the Alpha 9 and Alpha 9P.
■ The use of high quality interconnect and speaker cables
in your system is essential to obtain good sound quality.
Contact your dealer or Arcam for further details and
recommendations.
Note: The second set of speaker terminals (SP2) on
both units can be used to drive extra loudspeakers in
other rooms provided the impedance of these are 8
ohms or more.
- WARNING - Ensure that the TERMINAL LINKS ARE
REMOVED on the loudspeakers before switching on
the amplifiers. Failure to do this could cause
damage to one or both amplifiers and this is not
covered under the warranty.

Arcam Alpha 9 Specifications

General

Brand	Arcam
Model	Alpha 9
Category	Amplifier
Language	English