[Samurai7595]

If bi-wiring with separate speaker cable pairs, can the Bryston 4B-SST2 power amp have banana plugs from one pair and spades from the other pair and both connect to the same binding post on the amp?

If so, does this set-up even make sense?

[Samurai7595]

Anyone?

[srb]

If bi-wiring with separate speaker cable pairs, can the Bryston 4B-SST2 power amp have banana plugs from one pair and spades from the other pair and both connect to the same binding post on the amp?

Yes.

If so, does this set-up even make sense?

Some speaker manufacturers feel bi-wiring makes a noticeable difference (Bowers & Wilkins) while others feel it isn't beneficial at all (Dynaudio).  I've tried it with different combinations of amplifiers, cables and bi-wire capable speakers and haven't yet personally been able to notice a difference.

I have noticed a difference when passively bi-amping, but the difference is much smaller compared to using a more powerful amplifier.  An example would be that passively bi-amping with two 3B amplifiers can sometimes sound better than a single 3B amplifier but usually not as good as a single 4B or 14B amplifier.

You can certainly try bi-wiring to see if it makes a difference in your setup, but I would use copper wire jumpers between the speaker binding posts in single wire mode in lieu of brass jumper plates to make sure it wasn't just the elimination of the (often lower quality) brass jumper plates that you might be hearing.

Steve

[So There]

Halloo, Samurai:

I have done exactly what you are planning, and it works beautifully. My equipment cabinet required 30-40 foot speaker runs, so I used Ultralink CL3 inwall cabling, 12 gauge for LF and 14 for mids & highs. I used Ultralink locking banana plugs and Ultralink Pro Spades.

I'm using two Bryston 4BSST(C) amps and one 6BSST(C) for our 7.2 system; equipment listed below.

Rich
_______________
Whiney Napa Valley

The means — Bryston SP3 | Bryston 6B-SST(C) - L/C/R; 4B-SST(C) - surrounds; 4B-SST(C) - rears | Bryston BDP-2 Digital Player; BDA-2 D/A Converter; Oppo BDP-105 | Paradigm Reference Signature S8 fronts; C5 center; ADP surrounds; S4 rears; two Velodyne DD15 subs | APC S20 | Pioneer Elite PRO-1130

[So There]

FWIW, the main reason I used biwiring was the length of the cable runs, to get as much copper as possible between the amps and speakers.

Rich
______________
Sunny Napa Valley

[werd]

Biwing is going out of fashion as shotgunning is more popular.  Using wire jumpers over brass too. The idea is biwing takes a good cable and makes it worse as you generally cut the gauge in half.

[So There]

Oops, forgot to mention that the Ultralink is four-conductor cable, so there are four 12-gauge strands in each LF cable and four 14-gauge strands in each Mid/HF cable. I twisted two strands together for each connection to the bananas or spades, so each connector got a hefty double-dose of copper, which seemed apt for such long cable runs. The system sounds fantastic, so I've no complaints.

Cheerio,

Rich
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Biwired Napa Valley