To bi-wire or not bi-wire

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Scott.......Try clicking on Search in the blue bar above then type in bi-wiring speakers. That will provide you with plenty of bi-wiring opinions to read. The Search feature is your friend.

Originally Posted by orosie

And I thought this was the "friendly" audiophile message board. Thanks for the condescending advise, jdandy. Just wanted a fresh perspective.

Scott.......My post is a friendly and helpful response. The search tool can be extremely useful. I use it all the time. Before I made my post to you I typed bi-wiring speakers in the Search box as a test and came up with a number of pages of useful information. There was nothing condescending about my post at all, nor was it intended to be such. Too bad I can't say the same about the tone of your response. You've been a member here for two months and this was my first correspondence with you. An attitude like that won't enlist any help from me in the future.

I am not interested in chucking spears back and forth. If I had intended to be condescending to you, which I had no reason to do, I would have said something like, "Try doing a search before you waste our time on a topic that has already been beat to death here." There is a world of difference between that condescending sentence and what I originally posted to you.

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by orosie

And I thought this was the "friendly" audiophile message board. Thanks for the condescending advise, jdandy. Just wanted a fresh perspective.

I do not think anyone was intending to be unfriendly but, despite how much this is bashed around, all you will get is conjecture, non-statistical information and agreement. How can there be a basis for a fresh perspective?

FWIW, I have never heard any difference between competent bi-wiring and single-wiring. That said, I do bi-wire because I can.

[djwhog]

Dan is one if not the most friendly of folks. I think it was very helpful saying to use the search engine, I don't see how any one can jump that quick to read that any other way from the English that was posted.


Ya know this a great board with great folks, so why would any of us jump to judgement. Uggg. I take about nothing at age 56 personally more do I walk on egg shells or try to be to PC to the point it is impossible to have a conversation.

No one is asking for a credit card for tech support right, just please don't shoot the messengers. Nuff said .

[Cohibaman]

Dan is THE friendliest and most helpful on AA. Ivan's no slouch either.

[djwhog]

I know you quoted my post my stupid iPhone auto corrected before I could edit. Dan is a stud.

[krustycat]

Originally Posted by Cohibaman

Dan is THE friendliest and most helpful on AA. Ivan's no slouch either.

indeed

Sent from my iPhone using A.Aficionado

[CGabriel]

Originally Posted by orosie

Gents....

Wanted your opinions on bi-wiring. I have a pair of B&W PM1's, and currently bi-wire from my McIntosh MC152. I heard from another that I would get better results using the supplied jumpers, and running just a single set of wires to the PM1s. Have not tried this yet, but wanted to hear any experiences and/or opinions that you guys may have.

Cheers

-Scott

At the risk of stepping in a pile of pooh, I'll give you an opinion.

You didn't say anything about the type or size of speaker cable you are using. If you are using inexpensive (common) speaker wire and it is of relative moderate gauge (14-10 gauge), you will very likely get better results with a bi-wire set. This is because the DC resistance is lower and there is less contact to contact resistance. Be sure to use the same length and type of cables for the highs and the lows. And run the cables together (not separated).

If you are using a speaker cable of some special technology or geometry, you will likely get better results with a single run and a "good" set of jumpers. The jumper plates supplied by many speaker manufacturers can be a sonic detriment so try a good set of jumpers with the option to return them if you can't hear a difference.

Everyone has an opinion but it is usually based on limited experience specific to their own speakers and amplifer. There is great variability and interaction between amplifiers, speakers and brands of speaker cables. The best answer is to try it yourself in your own system. There is more likely a bigger difference between brands and models of speaker cables than there is between bi-wire and a single run.

[SCAudiophile]

Originally Posted by CGabriel

At the risk of stepping in a pile of pooh, I'll give you an opinion.

You didn't say anything about the type or size of speaker cable you are using. If you are using inexpensive (common) speaker wire and it is of relative moderate gauge (14-10 gauge), you will very likely get better results with a bi-wire set. This is because the DC resistance is lower and there is less contact to contact resistance. Be sure to use the same length and type of cables for the highs and the lows. And run the cables together (not separated).

If you are using a speaker cable of some special technology or geometry, you will likely get better results with a single run and a "good" set of jumpers. The jumper plates supplied by many speaker manufacturers can be a sonic detriment so try a good set of jumpers with the option to return them if you can't hear a difference.

Everyone has an opinion but it is usually based on limited experience specific to their own speakers and amplifier. There is great variability and interaction between amplifiers, speakers and brands of speaker cables. The best answer is to try it yourself in your own system. There is more likely a bigger difference between brands and models of speaker cables than there is between bi-wire and a single run.

Absolutely agree with this...thank you for posting! The only other solution is to truly "shotgun biwire" a set of speakers be it with from a single-amped or bi-amped configuration. The obvious part for shotgunning is that you will be purchasing 2 entire pairs of the same speaker cable. Some people choose one cable for the bass, another mids and treble for their shotgun, personally, I would not.

As far as single biwire (i.e. have the manufacturer split out a bi-wire config from a single pair), many speaker cables' geometry are not best intended to be 'halved' to create a bi-wire cable from a single pair. After a good number of years and different configs of all sorts in this regard, I would say the best option is what Caelin writes above; get the best set of speaker cables for your listening prefs, system and budget you can afford, then spend the additional money to have a matching set of jumpers made by the manufacturer. You'll be very happy you did!.

[orosie]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Scott....... "Try doing a search before you waste our time on a topic that has already been beat to death here." There is a world of difference between that condescending sentence and what I originally posted to you.

You see....that quote above is exactly what I took from your "the search engine is your friend" comment.

But your 46,883 posts make whatever I say or feel on this board moot...so I digress.

-Scott

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by orosie

You see....that quote above is exactly what I took from your "the search engine is your friend" comment.

But your 46,883 posts make whatever I say or feel on this board moot...so I digress.

-Scott

Great... let's hug it out...