Bi-Wiring 800D's?

[MyPal]

If you use the exact same good quality heavy gauge wire x 2, you may notice better articulation. My thought on this topic: http://www.audioaficionado.org/286503-post130.html

[Kal Rubinson]

Originally Posted by jdandy

[B]It is a 10 gauge speaker cable when it is terminated on both ends with single spades on the positive and negative grouped wires. When configured for bi-wire, the individual conductors in the cable's Quad conductor arrangement are half the aggregate wire gauge when configured for bi-wire versus single conductors.

Depends on which end of the telescope you look into. You are saying that splitting the cable from 2 conductors into 4 reduces the thickness (increases the gauge) and that is true but not important if you choose the cable based on the (already) split gauge. OTOH, if the 4 individual conductors are one gauge and combined into 2 for the single pair connection at the amp end, one might just as well say that the gauge is reduced (thickness increased) at the amp end. Either way, the choice of a proper gauge is the simple solution.

Originally Posted by prepress

This is what I was told when I called Kimber to ask about using a single bi-wire pair of 8TC, as opposed to 2 regular pairs. The overall gauge doesn't change (it's still 9AWG), so I would have fewer conductors going to each speaker terminal. I didn't like that idea.

See above. Half or twice the gauge is irrelevant if the gauge of the thinnest portion is adequate. This is not an inherent fault in biwiring. (Spoken as someone who is not an advocate of biwiring.)

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson

Depends on which end of the telescope you look into. You are saying that splitting the cable from 2 conductors into 4 reduces the thickness (increases the gauge) and that is true but not important if you choose the cable based on the (already) split gauge. OTOH, if the 4 individual conductors are one gauge and combined into 2 for the single pair connection at the amp end, one might just as well say that the gauge is reduced (thickness increased) at the amp end. Either way, the choice of a proper gauge is the simple solution.

See above. Half or twice the gauge is irrelevant if the gauge of the thinnest portion is adequate. This is not an inherent fault in biwiring. (Spoken as someone who is not an advocate of biwiring.)

Kal.......That's what I said to begin with, the wire gauge must be sufficient for the current of the amplifier. If that point is paid attention to, I see no advantage to bi-wiring speakers. It makes more sense on speakers with cheap jumper straps between multiple input terminals to use high quality jumper cables in place of the straps. This is what I do, but to each their own.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by prepress

This is what I was told when I called Kimber to ask about using a single bi-wire pair of 8TC, as opposed to 2 regular pairs. The overall gauge doesn't change (it's still 9AWG), so I would have fewer conductors going to each speaker terminal. I didn't like that idea.

Charles.......The aggrigate gauge of all the smaller condutors is 9 gauge with the Kimber 8TC speaker wire, but when you separate half the conductors in the total to make bi-wire cables ( 2 positives and 2 negatives), each of the positive and negative pairs in the bi-wire arrangement become half the wire gauge when compare to a single positive and negative termination at each end of the 8TC speaker cable.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by MyPal

If you use the exact same good quality heavy gauge wire x 2, you may notice better articulation. My thought on this topic: http://www.audioaficionado.org/286503-post130.html

Steve.......You used the correct operative word. What makes our hobby so much fun and worthy of discussion is the highly subjective nature of sound and our individual hearing experiences.

"And the wheels go round and round."

[Volks]

....and of course we can not forget the ability to do"Tri-Wiring' as pictured here on Kef Reference......3X the Fun

[prepress]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Charles.......The aggrigate gauge of all the smaller condutors is 9 gauge with the Kimber 8TC speaker wire, but when you separate half the conductors in the total to make bi-wire cables ( 2 positives and 2 negatives), each of the positive and negative pairs in the bi-wire arrangement become half the wire gauge when compare to a single positive and negative termination at each end of the 8TC speaker cable.

Yes, that's what I was saying (trying to, anyway). Because there are fewer conductors to the speaker terminals, I thought it better to use the full conductor compliment for each terminal but checked with McIntosh first. I had 2 pair of 8TC, used with my previous amps, and wanted to avoid spending money on a new bi-wire pair if I could. If I'd been told by McIntosh "don't do that," I'd have sprung for either jumpers or a bi-wire pair of cable. As is, things are fine. I suppose I could get a pair of jumpers and try the sound with one pair, but don't have any urge to.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by prepress

Yes, that's what I was saying (trying to, anyway). Because there are fewer conductors to the speaker terminals, I thought it better to use the full conductor compliment for each terminal but checked with McIntosh first. I had 2 pair of 8TC, used with my previous amps, and wanted to avoid spending money on a new bi-wire pair if I could. If I'd been told by McIntosh "don't do that," I'd have sprung for either jumpers or a bi-wire pair of cable. As is, things are fine. I suppose I could get a pair of jumpers and try the sound with one pair, but don't have any urge to.

Charles.......Sounds to me like you are happy with your present set up, and that's all that really matters. I am not disparaging bi-wire setups if a person chooses to do it. This is a hobby, so have fun with it.

[prepress]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Charles.......Sounds to me like you are happy with your present set up, and that's all that really matters. I am not disparaging bi-wire setups if a person chooses to do it. This is a hobby, so have fun with it.

I didn't take any offense in case you're concerned, jdandy. What this really came down to was not wanting to waste the 8TC. Now, I might set up a (very) small bedroom system using a backup preamp and tuner. That would be an opportunity to try a single 8TC pair on the 501s, provided I get a jumper of good quality.

And I'm slipping toward hobby-ism more and more, I think.

[jdandy]

Charles.......I use Kimber 8TC in my living room system from my MC601's to the PMC EB1i speakers. I am happy with the performance from the single positive and negative terminations. I use WBT angled locking solid silver banana connectors on both ends of the 8TC, and I use #10 gauge solid silver jumpers between the tri-amp speaker terminals. I am pleased with the performance this arrangement gives me.