I believe that a cable that is a true Biwire design is supposed to split and direct the audio frequency between the two pairs of speaker connectors. One pair is supposed to have the low end frequencies and the other should have the mid and upper frequencies. Some cables have Biwire terminations, but aren't specifically designed to separate the signals and thus they are feeding the entire signal. I think in this case, it is no different than a shotgun cable with jumpers.
Bi-wired vs Single Termination
Recently upgraded speakers to B&W 804s and want to upgrade speaker cables. B&W has ability to be bi-wired or to use their supplied jumper at the speaker terminals. What is the adjantage of a bi-wired cable vs a single termination and use of B&W jumpers. I am looking at a used set of Volcanos with single banana plugs vs a set of Mont Blanc with bi-wiring. I understand volcano is a "better" cable but all things being equal which configuation is "better". Speakers are not being bi-amped and at this time I do not intend to bi-amp them.
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if you go with a single run you will need a better jumper to get the best sound. Some would recommend a single run of better wire and others will recommend bi wire of a lesser quality (for the same price) The bi wire config will give better bass (usually IMO) just because of the greater cross section of wire bottom line is you will get a million different answers it is best to buy used and try for yourself. |
The signal sent from amp to speaker by bi-wire is full-range to both pairs of posts. What is split is the feedback from the speaker, particularly the woofer. The woofer's physical movement generates electrical energy that travels back toward the amp. With a single wire that energy goes into the crossover and you can have inter-driver inaction, potentially degrading midrange performance. Good crossovers are designed to disapate this energy and don't need to be biwired. However, some speakers are designed to be biwired and will generally sound best that way. I don't have any direct experience with your particular speakers. Maybe someone with that experience will comment. Dave |
Hey Smerlas, Check out my Goertz Bi-wires over on Videogon, great cables at a great price! http://cgi.videogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?cablspkr&1210861200 -RW- |
Figured I would get different opinions, I am looking at used the two cables mentioned are available here for about 1K used. I was hoping for someone who has similar speakers who might have tried both and what their impression was. Also came across a interesting comment from a Bryston owner about their 9GA speaker cables ... went something like if they are OK for studios then they are good for their set up ........... makes sense .... is 1K for speaker cables a diminished return over say the $250.00 Bryston speaker cable. |
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