[Wayner]

On a whim, I bi-wired my Paradigm 40v.3's with Canare 4-strand wire from Bluejeans cable. The results are interesting! The Insight amp/preamp combo is certainly fun!

Wayner  aa

[oneinthepipe]

Wayner:

Prior to receiving my Insight 440, I was bi-wiring my Spendor S3/5.  When the Insight 440 arrived, I merely connected the speaker wires to the amp's binding posts.  I haven't done any comparison between bi-wiring and single-wiring the speakers, although jumper cables are required to single-wire the Spendors. 

I am using monoprice.com 4 wire/14 gauge cable.  The wires are terminated with two different type of banana plugs, and at the amplifier output, the second banana plug is inserted into the first banana and secured together and insulated from the other sets of two banana plugs with shrink wrap tubing, then plugged into one of the amp's binding posts. (There are eight wires with banana plugs separated into 4 pairs, and the 4 pairs are secured and insulated with shrink wrap tubing).

When I listen to my old KEF 101, a speaker with one set of binding posts, I merely connect the corresponding wires at the speakers by plugging the banana plug from one wire into the banana plug of the other wire, which becomes a set that I plug into one of the speaker's binding posts.

Since the speaker wire, the banana plugs, and the shrink wrap tubing are color-coded, it is easier to avoid mistakes.  My only issue with the banana plugs is that the bananas needed to be expanded a little to provide a snug fit.  I don't know what gauge two 14 gauge wires would equal or if the banana plugs have any detrimental effect on the wiring.

What difference, if any, did you observe when you bi-wired your speakers?

[Wayner]

The soundstage changed and became more intimate. I was listening to one of Rik Ocasec's solo albums and in the middle of side one stopped everything and did the switch. I heard a deeper reverb of the recording, more detail. I also thought the 3D effect that I was already getting became very engulfing. I will see if I feel the same way tonight.

Wayner

[gjs_cds]

I wish I understood the physics behind bi-wiring...because I'm just not seeing how it can offer any benefits (at least from a physics / scientific perspective).  It's a tough sell to suggest that it offers significantly better 'current', and it seems like the different cables my actually introduce more artifacts (in theory) than any benefits that they could provide.

And with that said, I've been bi-curious.  I've experimented.  I've gone down that road.  And I guess I just don't talk about it much in public, because it didn't do anything for me.  When I tried bi-wiring, I initially thought it sounded "better".  Then, after a few months, I had to take the 2nd pair of cables out to use in another room, and I thought mono-wiring sounded "better". 

So now, I just view the whole thing as sounding "different", which I thought must have been "better" because I wanted it to sound "better"...so that I could feel all hip, cool and experimental.  Like I was the smartest audiophile in the room; the guy with the most golden ears.  In other words, it was a psycho-acoustic mirage. 

Who knows--maybe it was just my system, or the way it was set up, or my personal auditory inadequacies, or maybe it's just a bunch of phooey.

[oneinthepipe]

I've been bi-curious.  I've experimented.  I've gone down that road.  And I guess I just don't talk about it much in public, because it didn't do anything for me.

gjs_cds:

You posted on the wrong web site.   

Very funny lines, BTW.   

[Wayner]

Frank has spoken of doing this in his Audio Basics I believe. There is a reason for doing it...I just can't remember the whole story. Maybe Frank can chime in here.

Wayner 

[avahifi]

The theory in favor of bi-wiring is that it moves the common ground point of the HF and LF sections of the speaker crossover from the speaker to the amplifier terminals.  Any interaction between the crossover sections caused by the impedance of the speaker cables is thus eliminated.  Whether this is an audible effect or not is debateable.  Obviously the heavier the speaker cables the less the effect to be eliminated.

Another theory favoring bi-wiring is that it allows the audio salon the chance to sell you twice as much expensive speaker wire.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

[BrianM]

Is there any need for the speaker wire and jumper connections to be the same gauge wire?

[Wayner]

Isn't there also a minuscule amount of wire resistance drop (2 resistors of the same value in parallel), though the amount is probably in the order of .002 ohms per foot......so it's .001 ohms per foot?

Wayner  aa

[WGH]

Way back in '85 when I was first setting up my room a salesman sold me 50' of Kimber VS since I need to run 25' to each speaker. My first response to the new cables was there were more highs but the bass seemed rolled off. Later I got 50' of Superflex which is think was 12 gauge in a clear wrapper and the bass was back. As an experiment I tried the Superflex by itself and the highs seemed slightly rolled off. So the end result is I have been bi-wiring for 23 years.

My Insight amp has been bi-wired since I received it. I tried wiring my VR2's with the Kimber on top and the fat copper on the bottom (jumpers removed) and did not hear any difference so now I just plug everything into the top and use the jumpers.

[egoss]

I've been an owner of AVA equipment since the days of Jensen Sound Lab modified Dynaco preamps. Two things about Frank's equipment have always bugged me, and one of them is why he doesn't allow for dual speaker outputs on his amps, even as an option. It would just make my life a lot easier than using a splitter, which introduces even more variables into the mix. Understand, my Sequerra speakers have no provision for single wiring, since they are all driven full range, and contain their own internal cross-overs. I need dual speaker outputs!

[avahifi]

Easy solution to wanting more speaker terminals, which if I provided would raise the price for almost all my customers who don't want or need them:

Pamona dual stacking banana plugs, one set can stack into the other, giving you as many speaker wire outputs as you want.

Cheap, effective, simple.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine