Bi Wiring and AWG

[Lewis Moon]

When you bi wire a speaker, can you reduce the AWG a bit because you are running one signal on two sets of wires?

Inquiring minds and all......

[AndrewT]

Probably.
Particularly with the treble only driver, which seems to benefit from fairly small cables or fewer strands.
The bass unit is often less efficient and draws more current. It's bass performance is also dominated by the speaker Q and this is affected by the resistance of the cables more than the output impedance of the majority of SS amps.
The bass may perform better with slightly smaller cables or similar or maybe even bigger.

Finally, I always recommend that the cables be kept as short as possible, even mounting the amplifier at high level right next to the speaker terminals.

[Cal Weldon]

Inquiring minds want to know what you feel the benefit of bi-wiring is. My testing was inconclusive at best.

[jneutron]

Originally posted by Lewis Moon
When you bi wire a speaker, can you reduce the AWG a bit because you are running one signal on two sets of wires?

Inquiring minds and all......

No. If you raise the two guages, each driver will still see the higher guage.

If you keep the guage the same, the dissipative losses in the wires will also be exactly the same on average. But the instantaneous loss of biwiring will not have the product dissipation...

Cheers, John

[Lewis Moon]

Originally posted by Cal Weldon
Inquiring minds want to know what you feel the benefit of bi-wiring is. My testing was inconclusive at best.

Actually....not much. I really can't get my head around the fact that both sets of wires come from the exact same amp outlet. I would default to zero sum gain if asked.

The real issue is: (he stares at the ground in embarassment) I got a smoking deal on a big hank of OFC wire that is laid up with four conductors but is one gauge down from what I usually use....and my Wharfedales are bi wired.

[Brett]

Just parallel the conductors and use them that way.

[jneutron]

NoNoNONO

Do not parallel them...if you do , the fate of the world.......

Ah forget it...


Run them antiparallel, that will lower the inductance of the cable.

John

[Lewis Moon]

Originally posted by jneutron
NoNoNONO

Do not parallel them...if you do , the fate of the world.......

Ah forget it...


Run them antiparallel, that will lower the inductance of the cable.

John

Um........anti-parallel? (I feel like such a dork)

[jneutron]

Originally posted by Lewis Moon


Um........anti-parallel? (I feel like such a dork)

No problems..

Cheers, John

[Lewis Moon]

Got it. Will do.