Homemade Bi-wires

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acdds
acdds Posts: 253
edited August 2003 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I keep reading in various threads about homemade bi-wires. I just ran to two lengths of 12 gauge speaker wire connected at the receiver end and connected one run to both (+) terminals and the other run to both (-) terminals. Is there another way to make a bi-wire (without purchasing specific bi-wire cables)?
Receiver = Denon AVR-3803
DVD = Denon DV-2900
Fronts = SDA SRS 2.3TL's
(Carver m1.5t)
Center = CSi40
Side surrounds = Fxi30's
Sony 12" sub
TV = Hitachi 57F500

Bedroom rig:
Pioneer SX-1050 receiver
Rti38's
Post edited by acdds on
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited August 2003
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    That's how I've got all of my bi-wireable speakers bi-wired. Maybe there are other, more zen-filled ways of accomplishing this feat, but they're out of my hapless reach.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2003
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    I did this exact thing when I got my fronts and center a few years back.. thinking this is saving me bundle.. not having to purchase bi wires.

    Then i read and found out the true bi wires CAN make a difference... so I got a pair of 15' Monster Z2 biwires. Wow.. there was a difference alright.. not huge.. but it did improve the sound quaility over two runs of Monster XP wires.

    I call them bi wire cables.. they are so heavy duty.. the really can't be called wires if you get true bi wires.

    Bi wire cables can get pricey. I think I paid about $135 for a 15' pair on ebay.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Loud & Clear
    Loud & Clear Posts: 1,538
    edited August 2003
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    Then i read and found out the true bi wires CAN make a difference...

    ~~ Welp, looks like you need 'true' bi-wires, acdds. Good luck on finding them. I hope someone hooks you up on the details of such a thing. Peace.

    Two Channel Setup:

    Speakers: Wharfedale Opus 2-3
    Integrated Amp: Krell S-300i
    DAC: Arcam irDac
    Source: iMac
    Remote Control: iPad Mini

    3.2 Home Theater Setup:

    Fronts: Klipsch RP-160M
    Center: Klipsch RP-160M
    Subwoofer: SVS PB12NSD (X 2)
    AVR: Yamaha Aventage RX-A2030
    Blu Ray: Sony BDP-S790
    TV Source: DirecTV Genie
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2003
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    acdds,

    did it make any difference in sound quality when you did the two runs of 12 guage wire? did you remove the jumpers? you can either remove or keep the jumpers on.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited August 2003
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    Originally posted by danger boy
    acdds,

    you can either remove or keep the jumpers on.

    Oh no you can't!! Check out your manual, It states that you need to remove the jumper!! If you don't your going to do some serious damage!
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • acdds
    acdds Posts: 253
    edited August 2003
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    Yes, I removed the jumpers before I did this. Yes, I did notice an improvement in the clarity of DVD's but I'm not looking to put another $135 into cables at this point.
    Receiver = Denon AVR-3803
    DVD = Denon DV-2900
    Fronts = SDA SRS 2.3TL's
    (Carver m1.5t)
    Center = CSi40
    Side surrounds = Fxi30's
    Sony 12" sub
    TV = Hitachi 57F500

    Bedroom rig:
    Pioneer SX-1050 receiver
    Rti38's
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited August 2003
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    Originally posted by Frank Z
    Oh no you can't!! Check out your manual, It states that you need to remove the jumper!! If you don't your going to do some serious damage!

    Frank Z, it's only a suggestion that you remove the jumpers.. I and a few other guys on here have left our jumpers on and biwired our speakers. In may case... it was necessary to leave them on. The highs on my RT800i's were way to bright.. but leaving the jumpers on.. tamed the highs enough to make it listenable again. I've been running them with the jumpers on for about three months now... no damage has occured. knock on wood! ;)
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited August 2003
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    you are correct, no harm will be done.. If your useing say 2 different amps and Bi-amping that maybe a diff story.. but to bi-wire from the same outputs x2 sets of wire, will not harm anything, straps on or off.. i have tried the same thing
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited August 2003
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    I based my comments on what I found in the Lsi manuals. I'm not a big believer in bi-wiring, but it seems to me that leaving the straps/jumpers in place defeats the purpose of a proper bi-wire setup.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • faster100
    faster100 Posts: 6,124
    edited August 2003
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    it does frank, but just no damage will be caused is all.. i agree.. its not bi-wired with the straps on,
    MY HT RIG:
    Sherwood p-965
    Sherwood sd871 dvd
    Rotel 1075 amp x5
    LSI15 mains
    LsiC center
    LSIfx surround backs
    Lsi7 side surrounds
    SVS pb12/plus2

    2 Channel Rig:

    nad 1020 Pre-amp
    Rotel 1080 stereo amp
    Polk sda 2B
    kenwood grunt Tuner
    realistic lab 450 TT
    Signal cable IC
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  • Fastmerc
    Fastmerc Posts: 99
    edited August 2003
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    It does however still effectively increase the "guauge" of the wire which is the most obvious benifit of the bi wire to begin with.
    Mains: RT20Ps
    Center: CS350LS
    R. Surround: RT16s
    R. Center: CS350LS
    F. Effects: LS/FX
    Sub: Titanic 15
    Reciever: Yamaha RX-Z1
    TV: 55 LED LCD
    Interconnects:AR, RSF, MC
    Speaker Cable:MC
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