Bi-wire, Tri-wire?

[Mos Fetish]

Hi

I'm not trying to get into a discussion on biwiring here (although, if you've got a killer theory, for or against, I'd love to hear it) but why aren't more 3 way speakers set up for tri-wiring?

Obviously (if you subscribe to the theory) 2 ways are good to go with a bi-wire setup, but often, you see only bi-wiring on 3 ways as well. Surely, if bi-wiring is good for 2 ways then tri-wiring is essential for 3 ways?


Mos

[sreten]

Presumably the point is to allow bi-amping.

sreten.

[rabbitz]

Hi Mos

I think the point is to get the bass signals away from the mid and tweeter so bi-wiring is all you need. There's some info here on bi-amping and bi-wiring.

http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/biwiring.htm

http://sound.westhost.com/bi-amp.htm

I had to bi-wire but for different reasons. I added a 0.5 woofer (for BSC) via a 1st order parallel xo to a 2 way with a series xo. Coming off a single wire didn't work too well but when the 0.5 woofer was on it's own wire, it all clicked together nicely. The 2 different crossovers now coexist.

You sound as if your speakers are almost finished. How's it all been going and when are you going to post some info?

Cheers

[li_gangyi]

Bi-Wiring is different from Bi-Amping...Bi-Wiring is when each seperate driver in your speaker has a connection to the amp itself...whereas Bi-Amping is using 2 amplifiers for seperate drivers...get what I mean?? If not try this website at
http://www.decdun.fsnet.co.uk/loudsp....html#spkrmods
scroll to the middle and u'll see a more in-dept discussion on this topic...

[Mos Fetish]

Sreten

Sure, I take your point about biamping but since terminals aren't an expensive addition to a loudspeaker, making allowance for a tri-wire/tri-amp setup seems reasonable.

Rabbitz

Hi! Yep, you'd think my project was getting close to completion but I've still got a ways to go. The cabinets (translam, curved sides) have really taken some time but they are finished, although still to be veneered.

I used to think some guys took too long to complete their projects but I can see why now. Time just flies and progress can be slow. At this point I'm hoping to produce a tweakable setup by late July. Then I'll post some pics and info.

Thanks for the interest

Mos

BTW, has anyone used the Michell Engineering Big Mother speaker terminals?

[joe carrow]

It looks like Rabbitz beat me to the link. Why aren't more speakers set up for tri-wiring? I think it's just that not many people go to the trouble of tri-amping.

One of the benefits of tri-amping, as suggested in Rod Elliott's article, would be the decreased power requirement for the tweeter. He mentions using a class A amp in this situation- and I don't really know enough to say how good that would be, people seem to like class A. I guess it's similar to how people love tubes- which could also be good there. Anyway, it gives me an idea for a project.

Off topic:

The idea is a gainclone to run a fostex full-range(ish) from 200hz up, and a heftier amp (a plate amp for simplicity, or perhaps an LM4780 to keep with the DIY spirit) for a sealed Shiva 12".

I'll probably start a thread on this if I get serious about it, that is- after searching archives. One question, though-

Does anyone know if (for example) a Fostex FE167e can keep up with an Adire Shiva in a bi-amped situation? Do I need to look for a pro sound driver with better power handling?

I've been experimenting with digital filters with my Eminence beta 8"s and morel mdt-20s, and the drivers go plenty loud without stress if I use a highpass to keep them above 200hz. The upper midrange does tend to beam, though, so that's why the next project I want to tackle won't use an 8 inch driver. I don't have a good listening room so I tend to move around and miss the sweet spot.

Sorry to ramble, I'm not quite awake yet.