bi-wire cables with non-bi-wire speakers

[Roman-dude]

Hi, I have a set of bi-wire cable, while the speakers only have one set of inputs. My question is whether there would be a significant difference if I used some sort of a banana plug to piggy back both bi-wired terminations into the speaker vs just letting the two extra ends "hang".

thx

 

[croseiv]

The best option is to keep it simple. Piggybacking won't help.

 

[JerryLove]

Hi, I have a set of bi-wire cable, while the speakers only have one set of inputs. My question is whether there would be a significant difference if I used some sort of a banana plug to piggy back both bi-wired terminations into the speaker vs just letting the two extra ends "hang".

thx

Yes. Signifigant differences include "look much better", and "stick farther out the back of your speaker".

Of course, depending on gauge, there may also be an auditory improvement (if one set of wires is not sufficient gauge for your ohm load).

I would personally put them into a single set of banana plugs (rather than 2 sets) for convenience.

 

[markw]

Assuming each pair is of sufficient gauge (16 gauge or lower) then I doubt you'll hear any difference at all.

The only caveat is that I would tape the dangling ends to prevent them from accidentially shorting and taking your amp out.

 

[slipperybidness]

Assuming each pair is of sufficient gauge (16 gauge or lower) then I doubt you'll hear any difference at all.

The only caveat is that I would tape the dangling ends to prevent them from accidentially shorting and taking your amp out.

If the wire is there, use it. Just tie them together. Probably won't be a huge improvement unless the wire is a small gauge, but at the same time, why would you just let it dangle there?

 

[Roman-dude]

It's 10 gauge wire. Banana plugs on the speaker end are fused onto the wire, so I don't particularly (well, at all) want to start tearing it up in order to tie them together. My thinking is that on a 15 ft run a single 10 gauge is more than enough and putting both together wouldn't yield much of an upside. On the other hand, since I already do have the cable, I'd like to try it. The easiest thing I was hoping for is some sort of a banana plug adapter (two in, one out) that I'd be able to use, but a cursory search of the Internet so far revealed nothing.

 

[slipperybidness]

It's 10 gauge wire. Banana plugs on the speaker end are fused onto the wire, so I don't particularly (well, at all) want to start tearing it up in order to tie them together. My thinking is that on a 15 ft run a single 10 gauge is more than enough and putting both together wouldn't yield much of an upside. On the other hand, since I already do have the cable, I'd like to try it. The easiest thing I was hoping for is some sort of a banana plug adapter (two in, one out) that I'd be able to use, but a cursory search of the Internet so far revealed nothing.

Oh. I gotcha. Yeah, 10 awg should be fine. I wouldn't want to tear up a clean install either.

But, there are several types of banana plugs that will let you "piggy-back". The banana has a hole in the end that doesn't plug into a binding post that is the exact size as a binding post hole. The drawback is that you will need about 2 extra inches at the back to piggy back 2 plugs.

Something like these. They claim 12-18awg, but you could prob shove 10 in there or find ones that will accept 10. Read the descrip and it says they can stack on other banana plugs. If this doesn't point you in the right direction, then call Parts Express and I'm sure they will get what you need.
Amazon.com: Monoprice 109437 High-Quality Copper Speaker Banana Plugs - 5-Pair, Open Screw Type: Electronics

 

[Roman-dude]

Oh. I gotcha. Yeah, 10 awg should be fine. I wouldn't want to tear up a clean install either.

But, there are several types of banana plugs that will let you "piggy-back". The banana has a hole in the end that doesn't plug into a binding post that is the exact size as a binding post hole. The drawback is that you will need about 2 extra inches at the back to piggy back 2 plugs.

Something like these. They claim 12-18awg, but you could prob shove 10 in there or find ones that will accept 10. Read the descrip and it says they can stack on other banana plugs. If this doesn't point you in the right direction, then call Parts Express and I'm sure they will get what you need.
Amazon.com: Monoprice 109437 High-Quality Copper Speaker Banana Plugs - 5-Pair, Open Screw Type: Electronics

But one can only piggy back with these IF one runs the wire into such a plug from a side, which I would totally do had I not have plugs fused onto the wires already. I'll talk to parts express, but I am very skeptical something like this exists.

 

[slipperybidness]

But one can only piggy back with these IF one runs the wire into such a plug from a side, which I would totally do had I not have plugs fused onto the wires already. I'll talk to parts express, but I am very skeptical something like this exists.

OK. So I guess I see what you are saying now, all your wires already have the banana plugs so you want a bulkhead type fitting to plug them all into. A picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[Roman-dude]

OK. So I guess I see what you are saying now, all your wires already have the banana plugs so you want a bulkhead type fitting to plug them all into. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Sorry, should have totally done that long time ago. This isn't the cable, but the terminations look the same: http://www.monsterproducts.com/images_db/home_av/m_series/speaker_cable/M1_4s-BiWire_tech.jpg

 

[j_garcia]

As has already been stated multiple times, you will get zero benefit by connecting both. Just connect one set and leave the other unconnected.

Soldering the connectors to the wire is pretty much unnecessary unless they are solder type connectors only.

 

[Grador]

The other thing to keep in mind here if, technically each connection is a point where you can lose signal quality. The predicted advantage of doubling up on your 10 gauge wire is zero, but the predicted loss of adding another connector in between the cable and the speaker is non-zero (though small enough as to make no difference probably).

 

[Roman-dude]

Thanks. Now I just need to find some good covers for the loose banana plugs that would prevent the signal from escaping. Ok, totally kidding!