Bi-Wiring

Hi guys.
 
Just wondering what anyone's thoughts are on the subject of Bi-wiring.
Specifically, we have just invested in a new home cinema set up and it is possible to bi-wire the front floor speakers.
 
I've read an interesting blog by Q Acoustics
 
https://www.qacoustics.co.uk/blog/2016/06/08/bi-wiring-speakers-exploration-benefits/
 
which suggests that the benefits are tangible and measurable.
 
But there is an equally well supported school of thought that this is nothing but snake oil and that manufacturers use it as a marketing ploy to get you Buy-wire.
 
I'm undecided, and have yet to buy speaker cable so if anyone has any thoughts, please let me know!!
 
Cheers
 

"This means that you will end up using twice as much loudspeaker cable than if you used the traditional single wire method, which has prompted many cynics to coin the phrase “buy” wire to describe the process!"
 
Maybe the report was created by Monster Cable.

Read my link Mike

 
 
I asked a similar question myself a while back Col, and got some interesting and enlightening replies.

The biggest difference I can see is that independent feeds to drivers that share a cabinet will feed each driver with a full spectrum signal. IF you have a common feed then the speaker drivers are getting a filtered signal as provided by the crossover unit. 

I think the correct term is Buy-wiring.

Ok guys, I'm convinced that the best option is to spend the money on better (single run) speaker cables.
 
@ strummy - thanks for your link mate, some very interesting comments on that thread!
@ jeff, yes there are 2 separate sets of terminals on the speaker cabs, currently connected together by a bridging plate.

I didn't read about any magic.  It's just science.  
 
"This is analogous to the low frequency and high frequency signals being present in the same cable; they have combined within the transfer medium to create a new frequency which was not in the original signal in a process known as intermodulation. Wherever there is non-linearity in a system which carries multiple different frequencies there will be amplitude modulation made up of the sum and difference of the original frequencies and in addition, harmonics of these sum and difference frequencies. Unlike some types of harmonic distortion this type of distortion is not nice to listen to and although non-linearity in good hi-fi equipment is generally very small, it is enough to produce intermodulation distortions which are bothersome to the listener."
 
 
 
They seem to be selling the notion that the intermodulation effects from all of those frequencies sharing the cable run can somehow be heard, to the point that we'll notice an improvement if we separate them.  

Which is just a can of worms, because there are *still* intermodulation effects on both separate runs as well.  The frequency range present on each cable is narrower, because the cross overs have partitioned highs from lows, but as long as there are a range of frequencies present, nonlinear to each other, there will be a sum and difference between these frequencies and will create another frequency.  Albeit, smaller in magnitude.  
 
What we really need is hex wiring.  We need 16 runs, with 16 cross-overs splitting up the spectrum into 16 chunks - then we'll REALLY knock out the intermod.  

Voda La Void
I didn't read about any magic.  It's just science.  
 
"This is analogous to the low frequency and high frequency signals being present in the same cable; they have combined within the transfer medium to create a new frequency which was not in the original signal in a process known as intermodulation. Wherever there is non-linearity in a system which carries multiple different frequencies there will be amplitude modulation made up of the sum and difference of the original frequencies and in addition, harmonics of these sum and difference frequencies. Unlike some types of harmonic distortion this type of distortion is not nice to listen to and although non-linearity in good hi-fi equipment is generally very small, it is enough to produce intermodulation distortions which are bothersome to the listener."
 
 
 
They seem to be selling the notion that the intermodulation effects from all of those frequencies sharing the cable run can somehow be heard, to the point that we'll notice an improvement if we separate them.  

Which is just a can of worms, because there are *still* intermodulation effects on both separate runs as well.  The frequency range present on each cable is narrower, because the cross overs have partitioned highs from lows, but as long as there are a range of frequencies present, nonlinear to each other, there will be a sum and difference between these frequencies and will create another frequency.  Albeit, smaller in magnitude.  
 
What we really need is hex wiring.  We need 16 runs, with 16 cross-overs splitting up the spectrum into 16 chunks - then we'll REALLY knock out the intermod.  

Until it all hits the same speaker where everything is "remixed"
 

Voda La Void
I didn't read about any magic.  It's just science.  
 
"This is analogous to the low frequency and high frequency signals being present in the same cable; they have combined within the transfer medium to create a new frequency which was not in the original signal in a process known as intermodulation. Wherever there is non-linearity in a system which carries multiple different frequencies there will be amplitude modulation made up of the sum and difference of the original frequencies and in addition, harmonics of these sum and difference frequencies. Unlike some types of harmonic distortion this type of distortion is not nice to listen to and although non-linearity in good hi-fi equipment is generally very small, it is enough to produce intermodulation distortions which are bothersome to the listener."
 
 
 
They seem to be selling the notion that the intermodulation effects from all of those frequencies sharing the cable run can somehow be heard, to the point that we'll notice an improvement if we separate them.  

Which is just a can of worms, because there are *still* intermodulation effects on both separate runs as well.  The frequency range present on each cable is narrower, because the cross overs have partitioned highs from lows, but as long as there are a range of frequencies present, nonlinear to each other, there will be a sum and difference between these frequencies and will create another frequency.  Albeit, smaller in magnitude.  
 
What we really need is hex wiring.  We need 16 runs, with 16 cross-overs splitting up the spectrum into 16 chunks - then we'll REALLY knock out the intermod.  

 
What they are trying to sell is that the intermodulation distortion is caused by the cable.
 
But if you look at what their "proof" actually shows, it's not that the distortion is reduced in the bi-wiring, it's that the crossover is doing it's job - the high frequency side attenuates low frequencies including low frequency distortion and the low frequency side attenuates high frequencies including high frequency distortion. IOW it shows exactly what one would expect if they sent a distorted signal through a crossover. Note that the spikes indicating distortion don't disappear but are just attenuated along with the noise at the same frequency. 
 
 
Oh, and who didn't notice the HUGE FREAKING low frequency spike that isn't in any of the other signals in the bi-wired tweeter cable picture? 

drewfx1
 
Oh, and who didn't notice the HUGE FREAKING low frequency spike that isn't in any of the other signals in the bi-wired tweeter cable picture? 

 
Me.
 
My vision was blurred by tears of hopeless, soul-drowned despair.

If one were to only use a single enclosure per channel and a single amp then bi-wiring is just overkill. However, if one were to bi-amp the speaker then you can set the crossover frequencies (assuming any internal crossover is bypassed). Even if the x-over is not bypassed, you could still balance some by adjusting the power to the respective drivers.
 
But, if one wanted to use multiple cabinets per channel then bi-wiring would allow some flexibility for impedance matching to your amp.

Sounds like a scam to sell more wire.

The same power amp is used. The only thing different is the short length of wire from the amp output to the speakers. The bigger factor is the amp, not the wire.

If you want to go the bi route.... get enough amps and speakers to have discrete bass cabinets and discrete high end cabs. One amp per speaker cabinet and use an active crossover that splits the highs from the lows. Send that info to the proper amp and eliminate the passive crossover and the incurred losses.
 
Just like we used to do with our band PA speakers..... we were tri-amped. More amps, more speakers, and more cables. But we was bad.... and nationwide.
 
OR... send low level signals to powered speakers that are bi-amped internally. Mission accomplished