Bi-wire-top post, bottom post, why a difference?

Bryan1,

Bi-wiring does not generally bypass the passive internal crossover, although on some models it could defeat an internal link between the high-pass and low-pass sections, i.e., you are still using the internal the crossover, even if you biwire.

Personally I prefer bi-amping with an active crossover with a speaker that has no passive crossover networks (or has them bypassed/defeated). That gets better results because the amps are not forced to work full range, plus they can be optimized for the individual drivers' requirements.

Now that I think of it, removing the straps for a bi-wired configuration may circumvent the potential for back-emf generated voltages to interact between the respective driver/crossover sections. Perhaps that is the real advantage that bi-wiring offers. I'll have to look into this further and perhaps do some experimenting with my B&Ws.
Perhaps someone with a more technical background could provide further information in that area.

I read a post from Ray Kimber on the subject of bi-wiring at audioasylum.com and he seemed to think that the back EMF voltage generated by the woofer(s) in some systems was a large enough factor to make bi-wiring preferable in some but not all models of speakers. From all the posts I've read on the subject this morning (quite a few) the consensus appears to be that bi-wiring can result in worthwhile performance gains in many, but not all, speakers. The bottom line is that you really need to try it in your own system and hear the differences for yourself.

Because of the predominant sentiment, that bi-wiring is prefered by many B&W owners, I removed the straps and bi-wired my CDM 9NTs this morning. I used my shotgun run of InnerSound speaker cable on my mid/tweeter section, as I had been, and a pair of AudioQuest Hyperlitz IV for the bass section. My immediate impression of this hookup was quite favorable and after a few hours of listening to different cuts that impression has only gotten stronger. The sound seems cleaner, smoother, and more coherent. And with the strapped single-wired configuration the midbass was fatter and less defined, whereas the bi-wire seemed to make the bass better controlled and possibly more extended -- to my ears it sounds more correct. I believe I'll adopt the bi-wire permanently for the 9NTs.

I experimented with bi wiring my B&W N803's using Synergistic Resolution Reference .5 to the top and Phase II to the bottom, it made a very subtle difference, but I kind of liked just the Reference .5 cables by themselves. I then tried bi amping the speakers and was totally blown away by the difference that made. I could no longer go back to single amping the speakers. I ended up using a CJ MF-5660 (5 @120 watts) for the bottom and a CJ MV-60 (tube 2@60 watts).
Bi amping was the way to go!