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Clarification of biwire, biwire shotgun, etc.....

After reading other posts on this topic I am still confused about all the definitions. Here's my understanding:

single-wire: one cable to each speaker, for each cable - two connects at amp side, two connects at speaker side.

single-wire shotgun: two cables to each speaker, for each cable - one connect at amp side, one connect at speaker side

bi-wire: two cables to each speaker, for each cable - one connect at amp side, two connects at speaker side.

bi-wire internal: same as bi-wire, but the two cables are combined to look like one cable.

bi-wire shotgun: four cables to each speaker, for each cable - one connect at amp side, one connect at speaker side

Pls. correct me if the above is incorrect. If my assumption is right, then isn't single wire shotgun identical to bi-wire (in terms of total gauge) except that the speaker side are further split? Along the same line, isn't an internal biwire identical to single-wire except that the speaker side are further split?

I would appreciate any clarification and if anyone knows of where I could find "graphical representations" (ie. diagrams) that show exactly how each scenario is like.
zeroch
4 responses Add your response
bomarc
501 posts
 
I seem to recall we've been around this merry-go-round before, and I' not sure what if any conclusions were arrived at, so I'm not going to weigh in with definitions.

But using YOUR definitions, you are wrong about the comparison between single-wire-shotgun and biwire. Biwiring (assuming you use the same wire for both highs and lows) will have the same resistance as a single wire of that gauge. If you shotgun (as you describe), you will have lower resistance (equivalent to a thicker gauge). So single-wire-shotgun will have lower resistance than biwiring.
stehno
1,453 posts
 
Based on my experience (who else's?) I've come to the conclusion that determining single-wire v. bi-wire differences is like chasing windmills.

I would recommend demo'ing and/or buying the best, most highly recommended/reviewed cables you can get your hands on. Whether mono- or bi-wire terminated.

In the end, I believe when you've found the right cable, it won't matter which type it is.

But keep in mind, that if you are looking for cables in the right circles, you will spend substantially more for the bi-wired versions.

Not long ago, I went from good middle-of-the road internally bi-wired but single-ended terminations to the exact same cable but now bi-wire terminated. And I enjoyed those improvements.

I recently went to a single-terminated coaxial cable no thicker than my keyboard cable and have not looked back. Biggest sonic improvement of any cabling I've ever tried. And by a wide margin.

-IMO
audioengr
3,282 posts
 
I believe that your definitions are as close as anything I have heard.
unsound
7,329 posts
 
What's discrete bi-wire? How many connections at amp end? How many connections at speaker end?
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