Bi-wiring Question

[CosmicCharlie]

Hello,
Can someone please help me understand the basics of bi-wiring. I'm currently using a home theater reciever as a pre-pro with a two channel amp to power my front speakers.

Is bi-wiring possible given that the amp has only two speaker outputs?

 

[Haoleb]

Biwiring is running two seperate speaker cables to a bi-wire capable speaker. meaning one that has seperate input terminals for the bass drivers and the midrange/tweeter drivers.

To bi-wire you need to remove the bridging strap that connects these terminals.

Yes you can bi-wire with only one set of speaker outputs per speaker, Depending on your speaker cables and the outputs. Most people use bannana and spade/bare wire combination for this because thats the only reaosnable way to get both wires connected. Amps that have seperate outputs for bi-wiring are equivalent to this configuration because their seperate outputs are wired in parallel. It just adds the convinence of extra speaker outputs for those with say, speakers cables with spades on both sets of wires.

 

[nibhaz]

This link will give you an opportunity to read up on the issues that are involved in this discussion; however the gist of the matter is that biwring adds little or no improvement to a system's performance.

IMO its marketing hype, so just forget about it and worry about something more important like room acoustics.

 

[CosmicCharlie]

Thansk for the responses so far. I don't really wish to debate the merits of bi-wiring, I just want to know how to physically do it.
I understand how the two wire connect to the speakers, I don't uderstand how two wires can come from one speaker output.

 

[mike c]

simply use two pairs of wire for each

 

[CosmicCharlie]

Still not getting it, you have two wires coming from each amp output. Do these wires have only one termination? Theres only two outputs, how do you connect four wires? I'm talking about the amp, speakers I get.

thanks...

 

[Nick250]

Still not getting it, you have two wires coming from each amp output. Do these wires have only one termination? Theres only two outputs, how do you connect four wires? I'm talking about the amp, speakers I get.

thanks...

How many binding posts do you have on your speakers? If you have only two posts on each speaker then you can not bi wire. Assuming you have the requisite number of binding post on each speaker let's head back to the amp. On the amp posts you will attach a second set wires to each post the exactly the same as you do normally except you repeat the process for a second time. Each amp post will have two wires coming from it.

All that being said, I agree with nibhaz, I don't think there is an audible benefit to bi wiring.

Nick

 

[mtrycrafts]

Still not getting it, you have two wires coming from each amp output. Do these wires have only one termination? Theres only two outputs, how do you connect four wires? I'm talking about the amp, speakers I get.

thanks...

You strip two red wires, about 1/2" or so, twist these together. Now you have one wire to connect but two red cables going to the speaker's hot(+) side. Same for the black wire. Same on the other channel.

Or, if you are using banana plugs at the amp end, place the twisted wire into one banana plug, or the opening on the spade if that is your choice.