Did I Bi-wire correctly?

[Vilous]

I'm a relative newbie, so I'm hoping I can get some confirmation that the bi-wire job I did was done correctly. So please let me know.

The relevant components to my system are:
Receiver:

• Sony STR-DG1200

Front Speakers:

• EMP Impression Towers

As I understand it, I can't bi-amp the EMP's, but can only bi-wire them. So I ran both the Front A's and the Front B's from the receiver to the 2 sets of inputs in the EMP's. Then set the receiver to transmit on both A+B.

Since, as I understand it, Bi-wiring is effectivly just increaseing the size of the wire that is transmitting the signal from the reciever to the speakers, I did not remove the gold clip that connects the 2 terminals on the speakers.

So my questions are:

1. Is using both the A + B speaker outputs on the Sony a correct method of bi-wiring?
2. Should I have removed the gold-clip connecting terminals on the EMP's when I do this? Does it matter?

Everything -seems- to be working ok after I did this, but I didn't really crank it up and had it running pretty low. Like I said, I'm still pretty new to this and want to make sure I don't ruin my receiver or my speakers.

Thanks,
-Brian

 

[TLS Guy]

I'm a relative newbie, so I'm hoping I can get some confirmation that the bi-wire job I did was done correctly. So please let me know.

The relevant components to my system are:
Receiver:

• Sony STR-DG1200

Front Speakers:

• EMP Impression Towers

As I understand it, I can't bi-amp the EMP's, but can only bi-wire them. So I ran both the Front A's and the Front B's from the receiver to the 2 sets of inputs in the EMP's. Then set the receiver to transmit on both A+B.

Since, as I understand it, Bi-wiring is effectivly just increaseing the size of the wire that is transmitting the signal from the reciever to the speakers, I did not remove the gold clip that connects the 2 terminals on the speakers.

So my questions are:

1. Is using both the A + B speaker outputs on the Sony a correct method of bi-wiring?
2. Should I have removed the gold-clip connecting terminals on the EMP's when I do this? Does it matter?

Everything -seems- to be working ok after I did this, but I didn't really crank it up and had it running pretty low. Like I said, I'm still pretty new to this and want to make sure I don't ruin my receiver or my speakers.

Thanks,
-Brian

You did it wrong, but it doesn't matter, as the whole concept of biwiring is bogus, and makes no difference.

 

[Vilous]

You did it wrong, but it doesn't matter, as the whole concept of biwiring is bogus, and makes no difference.

Can you expand on this a little? I would like to understand why it is wrong. (apart from your clear disdain for bi-wiring over all) My understanding is that the Front A and B terminals on the receiver are powered from the same source, and wired this way is the same as starting both sets of cables from say, just the Front A's. Thus I'm still getting the same impediance?

Is this understanding incorrect? Where am I getting it wrong?

-Brian

 

[Xargos]

While the concept is often regarded (and rightly so) as bogus here is the problem.

First off, you left the terminals connected to each other. This would defeat the idea of bi-wiring since the whole purpose is to provide a separate wire feed to each set separately. Second, both cables are supposed to be connected to one output.

All you are really doing by using a bi-wiring method is to provide the exact same signal to the same crossover circuit twice using more cable than is necessary. Bi-amping is a different case because the crossover is split into separate sections unless connected at the back and two amplifiers are used to provide a higher total amount of power.

 

[GO-NAD!]

I predict one of two possible outcomes from your post:

1) You'll get few responses, because few people here believe in b-wiring at all.
2) You'll attract a s***storm of responses, for the same reason.

As already mentioned, all you're doing, is increasing the effective gauge of your speaker wire and nothing else. If I've learned anything about audio since joining this forum, that would be close to the top of the list. I not an electrical engineer, nor do I play one on TV. But, I do have a technical background and it makes perfect sense. I'd forget bi-wiring if I were you.

 

[Rickster71]

Welcome to Audioholics Vilous.

What is your reason for bi-wiring? What are your expectations?

What gauge wire are you using, and how long is the run?

 

[walter duque]

Forget bi-wiring. Most of us already went through bi-wiring and passive bi-amping without any increase in SQ. Total waste of time.

 

[TLS Guy]

Can you expand on this a little? I would like to understand why it is wrong. (apart from your clear disdain for bi-wiring over all) My understanding is that the Front A and B terminals on the receiver are powered from the same source, and wired this way is the same as starting both sets of cables from say, just the Front A's. Thus I'm still getting the same impediance?

Is this understanding incorrect? Where am I getting it wrong?

-Brian

You needed to remove the jumpers, so the high and low pass filters are connected to the amp separately. What you then have is a long jumper, not very useful. Most of the power is to the low pass filter, only a fraction to the high pass filter, so you even loose the advantage of increased wire gauge.

 

[lsiberian]

I'm a relative newbie, so I'm hoping I can get some confirmation that the bi-wire job I did was done correctly. So please let me know.

The relevant components to my system are:
Receiver:

• Sony STR-DG1200

Front Speakers:

• EMP Impression Towers

As I understand it, I can't bi-amp the EMP's, but can only bi-wire them. So I ran both the Front A's and the Front B's from the receiver to the 2 sets of inputs in the EMP's. Then set the receiver to transmit on both A+B.

Since, as I understand it, Bi-wiring is effectivly just increaseing the size of the wire that is transmitting the signal from the reciever to the speakers, I did not remove the gold clip that connects the 2 terminals on the speakers.

So my questions are:

1. Is using both the A + B speaker outputs on the Sony a correct method of bi-wiring?
2. Should I have removed the gold-clip connecting terminals on the EMP's when I do this? Does it matter?

Everything -seems- to be working ok after I did this, but I didn't really crank it up and had it running pretty low. Like I said, I'm still pretty new to this and want to make sure I don't ruin my receiver or my speakers.

Thanks,
-Brian

If you really want to bi-wire you should connect both wires tot he same terminal. In this case it would simply act like a higher gauge cable, but if your receiver is a 10 foot run you don't need a thick cable anyway.

 

[Vilous]

Welcome to Audioholics Vilous.

What is your reason for bi-wiring? What are your expectations?

What gauge wire are you using, and how long is the run?

My reason? My reason is basically 'why not'?

• I already have the wire.
• The speakers have the extra set of terminals apparently designed for bi-wiring. The manufacurer says to NOT bi-amp, though I haven't heard an explanation as to why.. but if EMP says don't do it, I will tend to believe them.
• I have, what I believe is the ability to hook it up without aesthetic compromise.

So as long as I'm not hurting my speakers or receiver, I don't see a reason to NOT do it.

Now I would also only want to do it if its not going to turn my cable management into a complete disaster. I'm not currently using, or planning on using the B terminals on my receiver for any other purpose. My understanding is at the A and B terminals are effectivly the same terminal, which is why I wired it that way.

So, I'm gathering from the rest of the thread that all I potentially did wrong was leave the terminal bridges on the speakers in place.

Thanks,
-Brian

 

[Loren42]

My reason? My reason is basically 'why not'?

• I already have the wire.
• The speakers have the extra set of terminals apparently designed for bi-wiring. The manufacurer says to NOT bi-amp, though I haven't heard an explanation as to why.. but if EMP says don't do it, I will tend to believe them.
• I have, what I believe is the ability to hook it up without aesthetic compromise.

So as long as I'm not hurting my speakers or receiver, I don't see a reason to NOT do it.

Now I would also only want to do it if its not going to turn my cable management into a complete disaster. I'm not currently using, or planning on using the B terminals on my receiver for any other purpose. My understanding is at the A and B terminals are effectivly the same terminal, which is why I wired it that way.

So, I'm gathering from the rest of the thread that all I potentially did wrong was leave the terminal bridges on the speakers in place.

Thanks,
-Brian

Why not? Hmm. Well you have heard all of the comments about why you would not bi-wire. The bottom line is, it will do nothing to improve your sound. The real question is, if doing extra work yields no dividends, why do it?

Hey, if you want to wear a belt and suspenders at the same time, have at it.

Why would a manufacture offer the terminals? Because there are a number of consumers that are ignorant of the details about audio speakers and the prospect sounds like it makes their product better than their competitors' that do not offer bi-wiring.

Why not bi-amp? When you bi-amp you must first remove the passive crossover from the speaker and there is likely an electrical back-path in the crossover that would electrically connect two different amplifiers to each other. End result will be smoke in your room and a new project for your repair center.

If you were to bi-amp you must remove the passive crossover and use an active crossover system (i.e., Ashly XR1001) that electronically divide the audio signal into different spectrums, then feed that into separate amplifiers, which directly connect to the speaker's drivers. Actually, you need a cap in series with the tweeter, but that is just details.

It is true, leaving the terminal bridges in place was the error, but as stated over and over again, bi-wiring is a useless endeavor any way.

 

[Xargos]

Hey, if you want to wear a belt and suspenders at the same time, have at it.

LOL... That's the best analogy I've seen for bi-wiring!