To biwire or not to biwire, that is the question??

This will really confuse you more. I have Merlin VSM speakers and used to biwire them. Then I just used single wire and very good jumpers and prefer this setup.

Thanks for the replies.

The science suggests that by utilizing a single wire that is biwired (2) connections to (4) connections that you are lowering resistance at the point of the crossover and the binding posts and pushing that all the way towards the amplifier, not sure I buy that, but the theory sounds good....

I guess the only real way to get an answer here is to attempt to run single wires with jumpers and then run biwired cables and go back an forth. Problem there is that different wires will sound different, different speakers will work 'better' with certain types of wire and so on........

I see many offerings for jumpers here on agon and some of then get quite expensive. I ask myself why would someone purchase single-wire cables and then go through the trouble of purchasing jumpers when the alternative of just purchasing biwired cables is there from the start.

My local high end shop suggests the following:

Purchase the highest quality of single-wire you can afford and then utilize jumpers (aftermarket, after you have thrown away what comes with the speakers). They feel the science of biwiring without utilizing 2 amplifiers or amps not designed to bi-amp is more sales that fact.

What I have found is that everyone seems to have an opinion.

Nissancrazy- the science behind biwiring has little to do with (DC) resistance but more to do with the effect of magnetic fields. When using one cable to drive each speaker the strong magnetic field of the bass signal modulates the weaker magnetic field of the mid/treble signal causing distortion. Biwiring, with two SEPARATE wires to each speaker, can but not always mitigate this distortion. It does so by passing the bass signal in one cable and the mid/woofer signal in the other cable. A few inches of separation between the two cables is all that is normally required. NOTE; a single biwire cable provides little or no separation.

Additionally, if the system itself is of not high enough resolution, the positive effect of biwiring may not be heard. As always, IMHO.

Russ

Thanks again for the information. It would seem that to get the potential benefit of biwiring that either two runs of cable need be used or a amp set up to bi-amp, dual mono or actually 2 amps.

Based upon the feedback here it would seem that using a single cable that is biwire is not really getting you any more than the single nonbiwired cable.

Utilizing 2 runs of cable for each speaker would seem to be the best way to go.

Would the suggestion be to simply tie them together at the amp end (twisting the cable together)or maybe use one cable with spades and one with banana connection to avoid twisting the cable together at the amp end?

If you choose to go bi-wire: Use a cable that has two discrete pairs of conductors(full length) or two separate cables. You will gain nothing with regard to sound otherwise. Adding another pair of connectors to a single pair conductor cable is a waste of time. All you're doing is replacing the jumper with more wire that way. In some instances I suppose the wire may be better than the jumpers, but that would have to be a very low-end system. Most debates are pointless. It comes down to: If your system can resolve it, and you can hear(or will admit)a benefit: It's worth the effort! Here's a page with some further insights: (http//:www.soundstage.com/synergize/synergize031998.htm) Personally; I've been actively bi-amping for the past 28 years with excellent results.