Shotgun Biwire-Definition please

I can see there's a difference of opinion as to what's what & it all depends on who you learned it from.

My take on bi-wire is this:

Single bi-wire: Two terminations at the amp & four at the speaker per side. Two separate cables needed for a stereo hook-up.

Bi-wire or true bi-wire: Two terminations at the amp & two at the speaker. You need two runs per side for one speaker. Total of four separate cables for one stereo hook-up. With this configuration, you either have to stack at the amp end or have two sets of binding posts on the amp.

Shotgun bi-wire: This doubles the cable (wire) for each leg.

As for the differences, it really all depends on what you like. Out of all the possible configurations, the only one I didn't care for was a shotgun single bi-wire set-up. I now use a true bi-wire configuration, mostly because the binding posts on my VR4's are 3' apart.

Here's a link to more info if you're interested:
http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/biwiring.htm

If you decide to experiment just remember to trust your ears.

Shotgun biwiring utilizes four separate cables runs for each speaker. I used this configuration in two different speaker cable brands for a couple years. Now I have a new brand which utilizes standard internal biwiring so I only have a single fat cable for each speaker. That is, until it reaches the back of the speaker where there are still four separate connectors.

your question is a good question. there are many different ways to bi-wire a speaker. here is a quick explanationon of my opinion of bi-wire cables:

before i attempt to explain this, the main take away is a true biwire set up is at least 4 pairs of cables - utilizing 2 pair per side.

types of biwire:

single biwire- is when the cable that is seperated into 4 terminations at the speaker end and 2 at the amp end. depending on the original design this may not be optimal since the able was designed as a single +/- cable, now it is a +/- to a ++/-- ( ie you literally spilt the cable in half)you'll see alot of cardas cables this way.

true internal bi-wire or internal shotgun - imagaine if you had two pair of cables and all you did is connect the amp ends together so you have 2 spades vs. 4 spades and you put the 2 pairs of cable in one sheath so it looks like a single cable ( harmonic pro 9's are like this and can be used this way, they are 2 pair of pro 11's in one sheath)

it is two +/- cables sheathed in one housing(2 per speaker) so you have one + and one - at the amp end coming down to +/-,+/- at the speaker end. this is a true biwire can also be a called a "internal shotgun" since the speaker cable is doubled up or two pairs of cables.

shotgun or external bi-wire- same as above,imagaine if you had two pair of cables and all you did is connect the amp ends together so you have 2 spades vs. 4 spades and you DONT have the housing) this is a true biwire can also be a called a "external shotgun" since the speaker cable is doubled up and it is visable ( yea it looks cool because it is big)

DIFFERENT Types
there are different types of shotguns biwires- some manufactures ( like tara) use 1 cable per termination - so you have 2 positive wires coming coming to one at the amp end and 2 negative wire coming to one at the amp end PER SPEAKER ( so you now have 4 wires externally - 2 plus and 2 negative PER SPEAKER) vs. 2 ( you have two plus combined and 2 minuses combined( - all they did was seperate the positive from the negative..really not that big of deal - it does look cool though). I am selling a pait of tara master gen 1's if you want to see a picture, it is here on audiogon)

http://cgi.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cl.pl?cablspkr&1055713136

i hope that helps out, you should listen to your speakers with a tue bi wired cable. most speakers designed that way do sound thier best when they are bi-wired.

the drawback to the whole true bi-wiring gig is you are paying for a extra set of cables.

best regards,

mike