Can I make a Bi-Wire cable?

AsSiMiLaTeD
AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
in The Clubhouse
I'm trying to test a couple pieces of gear and need a bi-wire cable. Can I make one of these myself using regular speaker cable?

If I can't do that, can I run my single ended speaker cable into one set of posts and use a speaker cable jumper from that post to the higher one, or will that break something, like my amp?
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    edited October 2014
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    I'm trying to test a couple pieces of gear and need a bi-wire cable. Can I make one of these myself using regular speaker cable?

    You can. What I did to make it easier was I bought some 14/4 gauge speaker wire (talk to Doug since he's close). Its got 4 14 gauge strands inside it. Put 2 of them together on the amp end, and split them all out on the speaker end. Done and looks purdy and easy to move/handle.

    Otherwise take 2 strands of the same cable and twist them together on the amp end, and connect em to your 4 diff binding posts on the speaker end.
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    If I can't do that, can I run my single ended speaker cable into one set of posts and use a speaker cable jumper from that post to the higher one, or will that break something, like my amp?

    And you can do that too.... whichever works, but thats technically NOT bi-wiring :smiley:
    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • chumlie
    chumlie Posts: 8,658
    I use the jumpers. No problems with an amp.
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  • Msabot1
    Msabot1 Posts: 2,098
    Sure...just make the lengths uniform...and color code the ends...adding a jumper like you said between the lower and upper posts will do nothing but provide a conductor path...same as when those factory installed shunts are there...there will be an improvement in sound quality with the wire jumpers though...
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,985
    I don't know why not; AFAIK it's just a pair of Siamesed speaker cables... isn't it?
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,753
    This, " Put 2 of them together on the amp end, and split them all out on the speaker end" and this, "can I run my single ended speaker cable into one set of posts and use a speaker cable jumper from that post to the higher one" do the exact same thing.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    Thanks guys, I'm actually troubleshooting a problem I'm having with my Magnepans. I'm not looking to experiment with benefits of bi-wiring or anything like that, just trying to isolate an issue with the Maggies by using a different set of terminals on the back.
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  • EndersShadow
    EndersShadow Posts: 17,596
    AsSiMiLaTeD wrote: »
    Thanks guys, I'm actually troubleshooting a problem I'm having with my Magnepans.

    I will pray for you :wink:

    "....not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted." William Bruce Cameron, Informal Sociology: A Casual Introduction to Sociological Thinking (1963)
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,859
    Jumpers would be the easiest to use for testing.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • Moose68Bash
    Moose68Bash Posts: 3,843
    edited October 2014
    AsSiMiLaTeD,

    I've made a few sets of speaker cables that will do what I think you are trying to do:
    1. I used a double run of a variety of Monster cable and attached one set of banana plugs on the amp end -- two wires in each plug -- and two sets of banana plugs on the speaker ends -- one wire in each plug. Of course, the positive and negative wires have to be carefully noted.
    2. I used Canare 4S11 or Supra Rondo 4x2.5 cable and attached banana pugs in the same way using the four individual wires in the Canare cable. The Canare or Supra Rondo is essentially a "double run" of cable within one insulating jacket.

    I've never had any problems with any of these DIY speaker cables. My wife, by the way, very much prefers the SQ of the Supra Rondo cables over the Canares. :)

    Family Room, Innuos Statement streamer (Roon Core) with Morrow Audio USB cable to McIntosh MC 2700 pre with DC2 Digital Audio Module; AQ Sky XLRs to CAT 600.2 dualmono amp, Morrow Elite Speaker Cables to NOLA Baby Grand Reference Gold 3 speakers. Power source for all components: Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One with dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel.

    Exercise Room, Innuos Streamer via Cat 6 cable connection to PS Audio PerfectWave MkII DAC w/Bridge II, AQ King Cobra RCAs to Perreaux PMF3150 amp (fully restored and upgraded by Jeffrey Jackson, Precision Audio Labs), Supra Rondo 4x2.5 Speaker Cables to SDA 1Cs (Vr3 Mods Xovers and other mods.), Dreadnaught with Supra Rondo 4x2.5 interconnect cables by Vr3 Mods. Power for each component from dedicated 20 amp circuit to main panel, except Innuos Statement powered from Silver Circle Audio Pure Power One.

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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    I'm pretty sure the issue is with the top set of posts because the sound cuts in and out as I wiggle a speaker cable there. My speakers are strange because there are separate single end and bi wire posts, so I have three sets of posts in total, you can see what I mean on the second photo in the first post of the page linked below:

    http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=104864.0

    I'm currently using that top set of posts, and want to temporarily wire mine to look like the ones in that photo.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 6,859
    edited October 2014
    Looks like it should be easy to just pull that binding post cover off and check the wire behind it. Might just need to be tightened (if its just a nut on the back) or re-soldered.

    EDIT: Nevermind, I read the manual and it looks like they are just extra bi-wire connectors and come with jumpers originally.
    For rig details, see my profile. Nothing here anymore...
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,606
    Just borrow a second set from somebody.
    For troubleshooting, good enough.
    Or use cheap wire for the bass connection with
    bare wire to stacking nanners for the amp side.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    or call Doug.. get his 4 conductor wire and like Jesse said, the amp end the 4 get connected together to make 2 wires and the speakers end still has the 4 :) your home made bi-wire! Doug has some speaker cable wire that is only like $1 or so a foot so you buy 20 feet for $20 and cut them in half! but you will need some spade or banana plugs to terminate or just go bare.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    Thanks guys, I was just looking for something I could throw together for a quick test, Doug is my guy when it comes to ordering cables though
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,606
    It looks like the top is tied to the low and then jumpers to the highs
    Pull the plate off, Pull connections, clean and reassemble.
    Problem solved.
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,606
    So, gotta ask.
    Has the trouble been shot????
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    Not yet, gonna play with it this weekend...
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  • voltz
    voltz Posts: 5,384
    edited October 2014
    Doug sells Canare 4S11's too :) at only $1.35 a foot you can have fun making your own & save a little $$$ too. you will need bigger banana's to plug the 2 wire into, his Furez TSTWP48XLAg's are perfect for this! not affiliated just shop there a lot.
    2 ch- Polk CRS+ * Vincent SA-31MK Preamp * Vincent Sp-331 Amp * Marantz SA8005 SACD * Project Xperience Classic TT * Sumiko Blue Point #2 MC cartridge

    HT - Polk 703's * NAD T-758 * Adcom 5503 * Oppo 103 * Samsung 60" series 8 LCD
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,606
    Ok, so is it soup yet?
    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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