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To biwire or not to biwire, that is the question??

Thanks for taking the time to read. I have sifted through the mound of information regarding biwiring but have yet to come to a clear yes or no on the matter.

My question is as follows: Using a single 2CH amplifier run to speakers that are set-up to biwire utilizing a biwire cable (2 connections amp end/ 4 connections speaker end)should return no greater result than running a single wire to that same speaker and utilizing jumpers??? My reading suggests that unless you are bi-amping, simply taking the source of the signal at the amp, (2 connections) and splitting that into (4 connections at the speaker) is not positively affecting the sound?? Bi-amping on the other hand may return an improved sound as the signals are isolated and could affect the resistance of the load?

So I guess what my reading has indicated is that if you are only running a single amp (2 connections) to a bi-wire ready speaker (4 coonnections) you are really paying for a cable that has additional ends but should return no great end product as the signals are technically not distinct as in the case of using 2 ampsor an amp set up for bi-amping?

Any thoughts are welcome as this seems to be an endless debate???
nissancrazy
nickword
49 posts
 
Yes you should bi-wire. It sounds better to me... for an explanation go to Vandersteen.com. All his speakers are designed for bi-wire operation, and they all sound better that way

Actually this is no longer true. Some of the newer crossover designs on the Vandersteens have led him to discourage this practice.
sprink
110 posts
 
So if you bi-wire using 2 different sets of wires, do the wires need to be the same brand or at least the same gauge? I just bought Paradigm studio 40's and the dealer gave me some wires that are double runs in one jacket. I have them single wired with the factory jumpers, and he told me that if I wanted to bi-wire I could just unwind them and connect them seperately to my terminals.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf
1,174 posts
 
Sprink, If you look at my system pics, you will see how a true bi-wire should be IMHO. That is a single same gauge and same manufacturer run per terminal. In my case I use Highwire's and run an identical pair in a 8' configuration. This allows for the same connections at each end, in my case spades. Unwinding the runs in a double jacket might not be a very good idea, are these cables the same gauge and composition in each cable?
sprink
110 posts
 
Same composition, different gauge. That's why I was asking. It seems to me that the wires should be at least the same gauge. The dealer threw these cables in for free, so I wasn't going to complain, they were a lot better than the ones I had. I've only had these speakers for a week so I just have them wired to the lower terminals with the factory jumper in. I may play with that a little when I get some more hours on them.
mordante
511 posts
 
I think bi-wire is a myth. I have tried it and there was no difference with my speaker.

BUT I think (active) bi/tri amping does work.
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