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Should I Bi-Wire or Use Jumpers?



I recently upgraded my 7 year old Kimber 4pr to Speltz Anti-Cable and this made a huuuge improvement... but I want to take it to the next level.

I'm currently using a pair of PSB Stratus Mini's, which can be bi wired but only have one single run of anti-cable along with the stock jumpers in place. My Denon PMA 2000ivr also has a and b speaker outputs for bi wiring.

My question is - will it make any difference if I use a double run on Anti-Cable to bi wire vs. a single run with the addition of anti cable jumpers? The price difference between the two is only about $50.00 so this isnt a concern but jumpers would be slightly easier to manage.

Oh yeah, If my current speaker wire has spades, can I also use jumpers with spades? For example having two sets of spade connections in ony binding post ( speaker wire and jumpers) or will this degrade the sound? Maybe a better option would be banana plugs for the jumpers.
dave123456
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
I don't agree that bi-wire is better. This is a myth. Actually it depends on the amp, speaker, and listener. I've heard instances in which jumpers outperformed bi-wiring.

Also multiple spades are unnecessary in the majority of jumper configurations.

Most speaker terminals accept bananas terminations as well so a pair of jumpers with bananas at both ends (or one for that matter) make double spades moot.
lak's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
lak
4,632 posts
 
I agree with Audiofeil. I own and have owned many different pairs of speakers however never the PSB Stratus Mini's. In my systems sometimes bi-wiring sounded better and sometimes cable jumpers sounded better. I’m sure there is a reason for that and once it was explained to me in a technical fashion. Unfortunately I’m electronally challenged and did not understand the verbal explanation. I have no doubt that several members of the Audiogon community are capable of giving the explanation. I prefer the bananas on jumpers that have a knob on the back for expanding the width for a nice secure tight fit.
rse
6 posts
 
If your system sounds a little light weight, bi-wiring usually will help to get a fuller bodied sound.
I also have found jumpers to surfice, but try connecting the main speakers wires to both sets and listen to which may sound better ( I connect to top and jump to bass).
Bare wire will sound best if that feasible.
face
516 posts
 
Get a pair of high quality jumpers.
almarg's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
almarg
9,670 posts
 
In principle biwiring should provide some degree of improvement in accuracy, but subjectively that may not be preferable. See the following threads, especially my posts near the end, in which I provide a technical explanation:

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1247245568

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1247016622

Regards,
-- Al
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