Does the"quality" of jumpers affect the sound?

I replaced my single wire speaker cable with biwire one because using jumpers along with the single wire cable didn't give satisfaction. Every jumper I used sounded different. So I decided to go for the Cardas Golden Reference biwire. It's not a real biwire cable though, but internally biwired, but what the hell...

Chris

Would a "better" jumper cable equate to better sound?
Greh

Possibly. It depends on the resolving powers of your equipment, and how carefully you listen. This question is very similar to the power cord question. If the electric company runs power in cables hundreds of miles, how can a 5 foot cord affect the sound? I and many others believe it does. However, YMMV, so only you can determine if it does for you.
FWIW, I heard a nice improvement when I changed my stock jumpers out for AQ Kilimanjaro jumpers.

John

I have always felt that the best jumper is "NO" jumper. Bi wire is much better IMO. The problem with that statement is that there are different beliefs if bi-wiring offers any better sound than using jumpers and a single cable per speaker.

I will give one example. Last year I purchsased a pair of Alon I Mk II speakers. They came with jumpers made from the same wire in which it was wired with internally. Yes, the system sounded good but something was missing. I removed the jumpers and I experienced a larger soundstage, sweeter top end, a more spacious sound but more than that I experiences better rhythym and pacing. The speakers opened up.
These were dealer Demos. The dealer told me they did not sound good with the jumpers. I didn't have a pair of bi-wire cables so I listened for about 3 weeks while waiting for the bi-wire cable to arrive. When I received it I inserted the bi-wire cable. I had removed the jumpers.

When I began to listen I really noticed an improvement all around. I tried several amplifiers in the mix and several combinations of cables and amps. I realized one thing and that was the Alons sounded better bi-wired. I placed the jumpers back on with several different expensive cables and still they sound more in focus with the bi-wire cable. A few months later I sold the Alons and I have tried several other speakers in the $2000 to $4000 range. Some sounded better bi-wired and some didn't. I guess it's all in the design. Many audiophiles say that bi-wire does not offer much improvement over a single wire system or a system with jumpers. I say trust your ears. I would use the same wire that my cables are made out of.

Let's assume it does make a difference. It still seems to me that a pair of brass bars (or the better copper ones) would have an excellent chance of outperforming two jumper cables of even super-premium pedigree because those cables are (1) longer -- usually 6 inches or more compared to maybe 2 inches for the bars; (2) have solder joints to spade or banana connectors on both ends, versus no joints whatsoever; and (3) are prone to higher inductance because the + and - are typically separated by a greater distance than with the simple bars.

I wish manufacturers would do away with biwiring as an option unless they are absolutely convinced it matters for their speakers (e.g., Vandersteen) or unless it is a speaker that is likely to be biamped. I also wish they would standardize on a single binding post diameter.

Drubin, I'm pretty sure every manufacturer that offers their speaker in a biwire version believes it absolutely makes a difference. Otherwise, why would they spend the extra money?

In my opinion, switching out the stock jumpers does make a difference.