Bi-wiring: quote from "Loudspeakers For Music Recording And Reproduction"

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Bi-wiring takes separate cables from the output terminals of the amplifier to the separated inputs of the high and low frequency sections of the passive crossover filters. Although each cable still receives the same voltage drive from the amplifier, the current passed by each cable is only that which relates to the frequency band that it is handling. As it is the current which gives rise to the linear and non-linear processes which are attributed to magnetic effects, the separation of the currents into two or more frequency bands can be beneficial. The high frequency signals are therefore unaffected by the heavy low frequency currents.

The materials used for the conductors can influence the sound quality performance of loudspeaker cables, as can the materials used for the insulators. The physical construction of a cable is also considered by many to be a significant factor in terms of sound quality, with some complex plaiting arrangements of the conductors being highly regarded by many specialists. Given these differences, appropriate cable designs and dimensions can be more ideally matched to the frequency and current requirements of the individual drivers in a system if multi-cabling is employed.

The book is here:

Amazon.com: Loudspeakers: For music recording and reproduction (9780240520148): Philip Newell, Keith Holland: Books


Any comments regarding the current versus voltage effects mentioned?

Surely this implies that current affects the frequencies arriving at each crossover input? If the frequencies arriving at each crossover input are not affected, then it's bogus. No?
 
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I second that "No".
It just uses more flowery language to embellish what some people think they can hear. IF, and it is a big if, there is a difference, it will be minuscule. If you want to go to any trouble at all, then go active and actually hear the difference.
 
There are some distortion mechanisms in play whose effect can be reduced somewhat with bi-wiring. They are definitley real (Hint: A driver is a nonlinear load and might distort the waveform that it is being fed with if there is significant resistance between the signal source and the driver). I can't tell you how much they actually matter because

1.) I would be too lazy to try it out and
2.) it can't be tested with my current setup because I am running active.

Regards

Charles
 
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A driver is a nonlinear load and might distort the waveform that it is being fed with if there is significant resistance between the signal source and the driver
Or just user larger speaker cable. If there is any appreciable resistance in you speaker cable, you must have bought the cheapest, scungiest, bargain basement rubbish available.
 
Or just user larger speaker cable. If there is any appreciable resistance in you speaker cable, you must have bought the cheapest, scungiest, bargain basement rubbish available.

May I tell you a secret that make shake your yiew of the world ? There is no cable with zero resistance !
If biwiring really helps then it might still be cheaper than using finger-thick cable that cists more than the rest of the system together.

Regards

Charles
 
Years ago before the interweb I read a blind bi-wiring test in a mag.

The result was that the main (yet still small) improvement was due to the elimination of the connecting plates on bi-wire speaker terminals.
The recommendation was to not bi-wire but get good cable, always feed the main cable to the hf terminals and use the same cable to make short jump leads to the lf terminals replacing the plates which usually do the job.
 
No, that's not correct. The back EMF is the same regardless.

Very true - but it is a nonlinear function of the driving signal and might therefore interfere with the frequency range higher above. If a speaker is directly connected to a real voltage source this has no effect.
But if there is a resistance between your voltage source (= amplifier) and your load then the load may modulate the signal over this series resistance. If each way has its own series resistance then there is no mutual influence.
The harmonics generated by the woofer via this mechnism are admittedly low-pass filtered and the resistances involved are small as well so it maybe disussed wheter the effect is relevant at all - but wheter it exists or not in definitely NOT a matter of opinion.

Regards

Charles
 
Mos - here's my opinion and suggestion:

Quit trying to prove something by analysis that can be easily tested.

Try it both ways using as much scientfic method as you deem necessary.

See if you think it makes a difference and report back to the community.

My experience:

I have tried bi-wiring and was unable to discern a difference.

-herm
 
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