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Cables for biwiring

In a foreign language forum (very technically oriented) a guy mentionned that a better solution for biwiring is to use different kind of cables for biwiring - thicker for the bass module and thinner for the mids and the highs. The reason is the different way the signal moves through the wires depending on its specifications. Theoretically I can see some logic behind this - many agree that in biamping mode a better solution is to use SS for the bass and valves for the mids and the highs. Why should we disagree that a specific approach to the wires may also be reasonable. Beeing convinced that the A-gon community is the ultimate audiophile gathering in the Net, I would like you, guys, to give your opinion.
nikmilkov
nikmilkov OP
22 posts
 
"Put 10 audiophiles in a room to talk about cables and they will emerge with 11 different opinions." - The only clear cut conclusion coming to my mind as well. Perhaps in some setups the different cables may sound better. But there's one more important question for me. If the ultimate goal could be described as "fidelity to the original recording", how does the use of different gear for treatment of LF (on the one hand) and MF/HF (on the other) affect the original balance?
nikmilkov OP
22 posts
 
@ Almarg
Almarg quoted: "The reason is the different way the signal moves through the wires depending on its specifications."
And made a comment:
"In technical terms, I have no idea what this means. Not sure that the person who made the statement does either."
My response:
Me too. However I read on the site of Aural Thrills Audio that "I am always amazed by the "oh wow" reaction of audiophiles upon seeing a very fat cable. In true American fashion, the belief that if a little is good, more is always better comes to mind. NOTHING COULD BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH! The major portion of an audio signal actually travels as a wave on top of the wire, much like a train travels on top of the tracks. A very small part of this wave travels inside the wire. Since the wire actually slows the signal down a time distortion is created between the signal on top of the wire and the part of the signal in the wire. The best way to minimize this effect is to use a small diameter wire so that very little signal is traveling through the wire itself."
almarg's avatar
almarg
9,670 posts
 
Nik, thanks for providing the additional background. Pet theories abound for the claimed superiority of different approaches to cable design and configuration. Most of them lack one basic thing: Analysis and/or experimental evidence establishing that the effect(s) that are emphasized as being important are QUANTITATIVELY significant.

In this case, given that the signal frequencies being conducted through the mid/hi connections of a biwire arrangement propagate through wires at speeds that, roughly speaking, are on the order of 100,000 miles per second (and even relatively slow propagating deep bass frequencies propagate at thousands of miles per second), I am doubtful (to say the least) that the audible significance of the claimed effect can be established in a quantitative manner.

Regards,
-- Al
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