Shotgun Biwire-Definition please

Rather than give you a long explanation of a topic that has been discussed many times here on the forum, you will glean more and better info by doing a quick search of the Audiogon archives. Simply use the archive's search engine, using the phrase "shotgun bi-wire", or something similar.

Best regards.

Hello,

Bi-wire cables(speaker) are cables that have a pair of connectors(be it spade, bananas, pins, bare wire etc.) at the amp end and two pairs of connectors at the speaker end in a single cable run (L or R channel for example). The latter is for connecting it to a two way (2 separate binding post; normally configured as mid and hi on top and woofer at the bottom)speaker.
Bi-wire shotguns(can also be identified as external bi-wire) are cables with two separate runs for each channel joined at the amp ends. You still have four connectors at the speaker end but instead of being encase in a single cable housing or insulation, you have two. The amp ends which are joined together and the same as a bi-wire config.

Internal bi-wire, on the other hand, is also the same as bi-wire except two complete runs of wires are encased in a single cable body per channel.

There are no concrete evidence as far as the superiority of one config to the other. In fact some people claim that single run with better jumpers works well than bi-wire. Also, there are papers that contest the advantage of bi-wiring and explains its disadvantages especially on speakers with passive cross overs. Do your research before you decide. In the end, what sounds great to you matters. Also, bi-wire cables are expensive compared to their single run counterparts. Some speaker manufacturers recommends bi-wiring. Conversely, some cautions their customers that there is no difference in performance.

....to inform, and not to convince...

I can see there's a difference of opinion as to what's what & it all depends on who you learned it from.

My take on bi-wire is this:

Single bi-wire: Two terminations at the amp & four at the speaker per side. Two separate cables needed for a stereo hook-up.

Bi-wire or true bi-wire: Two terminations at the amp & two at the speaker. You need two runs per side for one speaker. Total of four separate cables for one stereo hook-up. With this configuration, you either have to stack at the amp end or have two sets of binding posts on the amp.

Shotgun bi-wire: This doubles the cable (wire) for each leg.

As for the differences, it really all depends on what you like. Out of all the possible configurations, the only one I didn't care for was a shotgun single bi-wire set-up. I now use a true bi-wire configuration, mostly because the binding posts on my VR4's are 3' apart.

Here's a link to more info if you're interested:
http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/biwiring.htm

If you decide to experiment just remember to trust your ears.

Shotgun biwiring utilizes four separate cables runs for each speaker. I used this configuration in two different speaker cable brands for a couple years. Now I have a new brand which utilizes standard internal biwiring so I only have a single fat cable for each speaker. That is, until it reaches the back of the speaker where there are still four separate connectors.