Jim the Oldbie
My right elbow hurts.
Whoa, time out for a minute. We are definitely trying to discuss 2 different things at once here.
(The following assumes that we're starting out with speakers that are bi-whateverable - that is, they have a separate pair of terminals for each section, usually dividing the input between the woofer and tweeter (and their associated low-pass/ high-pass passive crossover components). For normal single-cable operation, these terminals are connected in parallel using either straps or short lengths of wire. These jumpers must of course be removed prior to bi-anything.)
Okay:
1. Bi-wiring is when we use a single power amp output for each speaker enclosure, but with 2 speaker cables connected between each amp output and its associated speaker enclosure. One cable goes to the woofer terminals, the other to the tweeter.
The simplest approach to this is to just double up your speaker cable. This is bound to have pretty much zero effect on your sound, since as others have already mentioned, you could achieve the same thing by...well, just doubling your speaker cable! Assuming we're starting out with adequate cables as also mentioned, the fact that they're now separated at the speaker terminals really just doesn't matter.
On the other hand: If you enjoy experimenting with the sound of different speaker cables, this scheme was made for you, because it doubles your possibilities - Brand X to the woofs, Brand Y to the tweets! Multiply that by 5 or 7 or more, and your family may never see you again! Just keep in mind that even the high-end audio mags appear to be talking a lot less about bi-wiring in recent years, which is kind of a big red flag in my book - I mean, if those guys are losing interest, then it might be safe to just let this idea go the way of the Dodo bird of high-end audio, that damn Realistic Portable CD Player. Just sayin.
2. Bi-amping is more complicated - especially since that same term is used to describe 2 very different setups! More on that later*, but for now the version we're discussing is where 2 power amplifiers are connected in parallel at their inputs, and then each amp stage is used to drive a separate section on the bi-wired speaker - one amp for woof, the other for tweet.
This approach opens up the possibility to modify the sound of your speakers in a very tangible and unambiguous way, because any difference in gain between the 2 amps will alter your woofer-tweeter balance from the original factory sound. It's my humble opinion that the main "improvement" commonly reported after trying this approach is caused by this gain/balance shift. It's being said that even very small aberrations in frequency response over certain bandwidths can be very audible, and this is certainly a good way to achieve that goal, inadvertently or otherwise. I believe that even the bi-amp mode in modern receivers may be subject to this error to a certain extent - the gain spec between the internal power amp stages in your Denon or Yamaha is probably pretty damn close, but not necessarily calibrated or guaranteed, especially in the lower-end models. Also, by connecting each amp stage to only a woof, or only a tweet, you are altering, however slightly, the interaction between each amp and its connected driver/ crossover stage, for another possible change in the sound.
But again, if you like to experiment, off you go! With separate amps, you can try stuff like tubes for tweets, solid-state for woofs! Or just use the amp's level control to change your tweeter balance! Lots of possibilities - just say hi to the wife & kids from time to time, OK?
*2a. Actually, I think the more traditional use of the term "bi-amping" refers to the scheme of using active crossovers ahead of the power amplifiers, then connecting the amp outputs directly to the individual woofs & tweets (usually including some sort of tweeter protection). This approach of is a whole other thread of course.
(The following assumes that we're starting out with speakers that are bi-whateverable - that is, they have a separate pair of terminals for each section, usually dividing the input between the woofer and tweeter (and their associated low-pass/ high-pass passive crossover components). For normal single-cable operation, these terminals are connected in parallel using either straps or short lengths of wire. These jumpers must of course be removed prior to bi-anything.)
Okay:
1. Bi-wiring is when we use a single power amp output for each speaker enclosure, but with 2 speaker cables connected between each amp output and its associated speaker enclosure. One cable goes to the woofer terminals, the other to the tweeter.
The simplest approach to this is to just double up your speaker cable. This is bound to have pretty much zero effect on your sound, since as others have already mentioned, you could achieve the same thing by...well, just doubling your speaker cable! Assuming we're starting out with adequate cables as also mentioned, the fact that they're now separated at the speaker terminals really just doesn't matter.
On the other hand: If you enjoy experimenting with the sound of different speaker cables, this scheme was made for you, because it doubles your possibilities - Brand X to the woofs, Brand Y to the tweets! Multiply that by 5 or 7 or more, and your family may never see you again! Just keep in mind that even the high-end audio mags appear to be talking a lot less about bi-wiring in recent years, which is kind of a big red flag in my book - I mean, if those guys are losing interest, then it might be safe to just let this idea go the way of the Dodo bird of high-end audio, that damn Realistic Portable CD Player. Just sayin.
2. Bi-amping is more complicated - especially since that same term is used to describe 2 very different setups! More on that later*, but for now the version we're discussing is where 2 power amplifiers are connected in parallel at their inputs, and then each amp stage is used to drive a separate section on the bi-wired speaker - one amp for woof, the other for tweet.
This approach opens up the possibility to modify the sound of your speakers in a very tangible and unambiguous way, because any difference in gain between the 2 amps will alter your woofer-tweeter balance from the original factory sound. It's my humble opinion that the main "improvement" commonly reported after trying this approach is caused by this gain/balance shift. It's being said that even very small aberrations in frequency response over certain bandwidths can be very audible, and this is certainly a good way to achieve that goal, inadvertently or otherwise. I believe that even the bi-amp mode in modern receivers may be subject to this error to a certain extent - the gain spec between the internal power amp stages in your Denon or Yamaha is probably pretty damn close, but not necessarily calibrated or guaranteed, especially in the lower-end models. Also, by connecting each amp stage to only a woof, or only a tweet, you are altering, however slightly, the interaction between each amp and its connected driver/ crossover stage, for another possible change in the sound.
But again, if you like to experiment, off you go! With separate amps, you can try stuff like tubes for tweets, solid-state for woofs! Or just use the amp's level control to change your tweeter balance! Lots of possibilities - just say hi to the wife & kids from time to time, OK?
*2a. Actually, I think the more traditional use of the term "bi-amping" refers to the scheme of using active crossovers ahead of the power amplifiers, then connecting the amp outputs directly to the individual woofs & tweets (usually including some sort of tweeter protection). This approach of is a whole other thread of course.
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