I want to Bi-Wire my Speakers...

Firegod

Firegod

Firegod

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:)

I've been doing some reading on the net, apparently there are some subtle differences when this is done, so I'd like to do it. I also think it's a good excuse to buy some decent speaker cable and not the generic stuff I have, which came from the shop. :)

Just wanted to ask if people have any preferences and things to stay away from. For example, is flat speaker cable good? Or is it more for tidyness than quality?

Are QED the best manufacturer? One thing I noticed is that most of the QED speaker cables come with the bannana plugs on the end. I do not need any connection as it just has the screw type connection on the speakers and amp. Would I be ok, if I were to buy QED cable, to chop these connectors off?

I'm looking at a total of 6m. (2x2m for one speaker and 2x1m for the other). As the right-hand speaker is closer to the amp.

Also, what is the difference in the mm2 size? i.e. 1.5 / 2.5 / 4.0 mm2

The cable I have at the moment seems pretty thick... is that better?

So please, any tips, info or advice much appreciated.

Cheers!
 
QED cables are ok, I use them myself. The banana plugs are optional and usually won't be supplied unless you request them (and pay for them).

Thickness-wise, they say the thicker the better, up to a point anyway, but some people use Cat5 cable and are quite pleased with the results. You don't want bell wire thickness or anything. I use Silver Anniversary and am happy with it.

You'll find that people are split on cables, some saying they make a huge difference and some saying there's no difference, but it's up to you and whether you're happy with the sound. Same for biwiring tbh, some people prefer it, some don't.

The AVForums will have loads of info on it.

It's probably a good idea to list your gear too.
 
My personal view is that it's better to spend twice the amount on a better set of single cables, than to biwire.
 
I've bi-wired into a pair of B&W 685's with QED Silver Anniversary Bi-wire speaker cable. I have never tried a blind test to see if this really does improve the overall sound, but common thinking is that it does subtlely improve it (possibly by improving crossover frequencies). On the other hand - bi-amping has very noticeable benefits (at a £ price!).

I would suggest that unless you intend to go down the bi-amping route, try bi-wiring. I base this on the fact that unless you are running huge lengths of speaker cable, the price difference you'd pay between standard cable & its equivalent bi-wire model is not that great.

On another note though this link makes for some interesting reading!!!
 
I recently changed my four runs of Linn K20 for two runs of Naim NAC A5 and it made a huge difference to my setup. So I would definately agree with Mr_Sukebe's post.

QED cable is OK, would help to know what system you are running as some cable works better with certain makes than others.

Rather than spending loads on extra runs of cable just make some little jumper cables to bridge the terminals on the back of the speakers and replace the cheapo metal bridge plate that is fitted as standard. I was going to do it but NAC A5 is a complete buggar to work with as its so inflexible and hard to strip that, aside from the fact that I couldn't be bothered, I was that impressed with the difference it made anyway I decided not to.

Edit: Also its worth mentioning that its best to keep the length of cable for both channels the same length.

Dave
 
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There are a lot of different opinions on this, plus on the min/max lenghts of cable. Naim recomend 3.5m as the minimum length and only using the Nac A5 cable in equal lenghts for either channel.Linn K20 was aparently a rip off of the older Nac A4, I was a bit unsure about what difference spending £11 a meter on some A5 would make but I'm so glad I did.

Dave
 
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I think I read somewhere once that it would take a ratio of at least 4:1 (in cable length) to have any possibility of an impact on performance.
 
Wow thanks for all the helpful replies! :D Very helpful stuff. Thanks for the links also, will have a read of them.

With regards to my setup, it's nothing flash. Basically I'd say entry level? I just use it for my PC. So listening to music and watching DVD's.

I have the sound from my X-Fi to my Cambridge Audio Azur 640A. Then from that I have x2 bookshelf speakers, which are Modaunt-Short Avant 902i's.

Would QED stuff be ok with this setup?

Thanks again.
 
Firegod said:
Wow thanks for all the helpful replies! :D Very helpful stuff. Thanks for the links also, will have a read of them.

With regards to my setup, it's nothing flash. Basically I'd say entry level? I just use it for my PC. So listening to music and watching DVD's.

I have the sound from my X-Fi to my Cambridge Audio Azur 640A. Then from that I have x2 bookshelf speakers, which are Modaunt-Short Avant 902i's.

Would QED stuff be ok with this setup?

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

QED would be fine with that - it's good quality cabling at a sensible price.:)
 
Cheers.

I would love to do bi-amping but I think for the setup it's being used for and the extra cost, it's not worth it. If it was a home cinema kit or something, you know, then perhaps. :)

Just have to wait till pay day now before I can buy it. lol.

:D
 
I personally think you should forget cabling, especially bi-wiring, and save up for better more noticeable upgrades. I've tried bi-wiring and it does nothing on my old setup, and bi-amping is the only thing i might consider.

I haven't heard the 902s, but I would really recommend you save up for some better speakers, like the B and W 685, monitor audio br2, but maybe think about spending a little more and looking in the 2nd hand market, e.g. some ATC scm7, ruark, PMC.

Much bigger differences to be had there, but also rememebr your playing through your PC, so that the more you spend, in theory, the worse any mp3s will sound as the better speakers reveal more about the source files.
 
Please dont waste your money bi wiring your setup, it would be completly pointless, put the money towards more noticable improvements, maybe some stands for your speakers?
 
Alright chaps. Sadly I don't have room for speaker stands. Not enough space to have the speakers off the desk unfortunately. Like "badbob" says, it's not that expensive what I want to do... but it must do something??? I can hardly make the sound worse, or can I?! lol.

Adfini, some valid points thanks. The 902i's had some good write up's and I had a listen to some other makes within my budget when I was buying them. They were good. But I would love to maybes upgrade the amp and speakers later on sometime. I think if I did that, then I would bi-amp them as well.

For now, I guess bi-wiring is my only choice. I also want to buy a small sub, something like the BK Gemini and just place it under my desk. :)
 
I wouldn't bother bi-wiring either.
If you want some new cable and are thinking of going with the £5-£8/m QED then i would seriously consider Belden 5000UP cable instead. It's about £1.75/m and has excellent quality copper and very good core thickness. They could easily sell it for £8/m imo. Great cable for the money.
 
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