2017/02/08 20:46:22
ampfixer
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. 
2017/02/08 22:35:01
drewfx1
ampfixer
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'm not sure what you're saying here. The high and low inputs of the crossover are still connected together - they're just connected at the amplifier output side of the speaker wire instead of the speaker side.
 
Bi-wiring just means that instead of running a single wire from a single amp output to the speaker, where it then forks off to the high and low pass sides of the crossover, you run 2 wires from a single amp output to the crossover - one speaker wire to the high pass side and one to the low pass side.
 
The idea is to convince people that each speaker wire then has "less work to do" (or something like that) and thus they will get better results.
2017/02/08 22:54:43
quantumeffect
I think the correct term is Buy-wiring.
2017/02/09 01:10:05
craigb
Oh, speaker cabling?   I thought this thread was about Eph!  My bad.  
2017/02/09 03:52:24
Bristol_Jonesey
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.
2017/02/09 07:59:47
quantumeffect
My apologies for all of the disparaging comments I have made about buy-wiring over the years.  After a more thoughtful read of the Q Acoustics article this concise explanation has finally convinced me of the validity of the approach:
 
Effectively, as if by magic, we have separated the high and low frequencies and sent them down different cables to the correct driver."

 
I had never realized that the bi-wiring wizards were graduates of Hogwarts School and as such, able to cast magical incantations over their speaker wires to have the electrons do their bidding.
2017/02/09 08:14:53
Bristol_Jonesey

2017/02/09 08:16:54
Jeff Evans
Even more interesting reads against:
 
http://www.achievum.eu/bi-wiring.html
 
http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/bi-wiring-from-amplifier-to-loudspeaker
 
https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/blog/should-you-bi-wire-your-speakers
 
I think Cambridge Audio sort of nailed it. Rather than put two sets of terminals on the back of a speaker there are other areas of improvements such as the crossover designs themselves. Or just get some heavier duty cable!
 
 
2017/02/09 08:36:07
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.  
2017/02/09 08:51:23
Bristol_Jonesey
Jeff Evans
Even more interesting reads against:
 
http://www.achievum.eu/bi-wiring.html
 
http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/bi-wiring-from-amplifier-to-loudspeaker
 
https://www.cambridgeaudio.com/blog/should-you-bi-wire-your-speakers
 
I think Cambridge Audio sort of nailed it. Rather than put two sets of terminals on the back of a speaker there are other areas of improvements such as the crossover designs themselves. Or just get some heavier duty cable!
 
 


Hi Jeff.
 
I actually read 2 of those blogs last night - the ones from Audioholics & Cambridge Audio.
 
Thanks for taking the time (to you & everyone else) to have a look at this.
 
 
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