Bi-Wire or Wired Jumper for fronts

landry_p2000
landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
edited September 2005 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
Will a set of bi-wire speaker cables do the same job as a wire jumper, and what materials would I need to make my own jumpers for front speakers? Maybe a 3" piece of 12g speaker cable with spade terminators on the ends, and removing the metal flat jumpers from the speakers?

Is there a noticeable difference in the bi-wired or jumper set-up? Are they both better than the factory metal jumpers? I know I am asking alot of questions, I just want to be sure I get it right.
Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
Post edited by landry_p2000 on
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited August 2005
    Noticeable is subjective. I used 12awg and spades for mine.
    Never Forget
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  • ward91
    ward91 Posts: 338
    edited August 2005
    ive bi wired my speakers (i think i have aneyway) i reamoved the jumpers and ran 2 sets of 78 strand cable (£15 from maplin) to the terminal on my amp ,ive just twisted the ends together and put them in the same output. i dont even no what effect this has. ive never thought of just doing my own jumpers. (dont just take my oppinion wait for more expereance) i dont even know wether i should get better cable because a universety did a test and 13a mains cable barely has a heareble change to more expensive cables.
    ELECTRONICS
    arcam cd93
    linn wakonda
    MC2 MC450
    Teac ud h01 DAC


    SPEAKERS
    Tannoy DC6 t se .
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,044
    edited August 2005
    leftover cable and bare ends on mine
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    PolkThug wrote:
    Noticeable is subjective. I used 12awg and spades for mine.

    Thanks for the input. Do you have a pic of the finished product?
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    Willow wrote:
    leftover cable and bare ends on mine

    Bare wire throough the post terminal holes under the red and black post covers? I may go with the spades for this. Radio Shack should have the ones I need. Why do so many guys bi-wire?

    Thanks Willow.

    Check your pm.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • michael_w
    michael_w Posts: 2,813
    edited August 2005
    I just use a 6" length of spare 12 awg bare wire with bananas running to the top posts. I don't ever remove them so not much need for spades at the moment. I'm not sure I noticed a difference but it was cheap and looks kinda cool.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited August 2005
    landry_p2000 wrote:
    Thanks for the input. Do you have a pic of the finished product?

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4018
    Never Forget
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  • McLoki
    McLoki Posts: 5,231
    edited August 2005
    landry_p2000 wrote:
    Thanks for the input. Do you have a pic of the finished product?
    You might look at this thread that I started when I was trying to make this decision.

    Michael
    Mains.............Polk LSi15 (Cherry)
    Center............Polk LSiC (Crossover upgraded)
    Surrounds.......Polk LSi7 (Gloss Black - wood sides removed and crossovers upgraded)
    Subwoofers.....SVS 25-31 CS+ and PC+ (both 20hz tune)
    Pre\Pro...........NAD T163 (Modded with LM4562 opamps)
    Amplifier.........Cinepro 3k6 (6-channel, 500wpc@4ohms)
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    Thanks for the pics fellas. I am on the right path now. I will post pics once I finish my "custom" jumpers. This is my plan, sort of a cross between McLoki and PTs jumpers. Top posts will have 12g wire about 2"-3" long connected with spades, and the bottom posts will be connected with banana plugs. Then I will plug the banana plugs from the speaker cables in the top posts.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    Well guys, after I left work today I went to Radio Shack, and this is what I came up with. A couple of sets of banana plugs, 3" 12g AR cable for both towers, and a package of spades.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    I also found out that speaker cable jumpers are a far better conductor of sound than those flat metal jumpers. My overall sound improved, including deeper bass, more clear and pronounced highs and mids. I was able to get room rattling bass from my towers without the use of my PSW505. To anyone out there running those flat jumpers, you should give it a shot, and I think you will be glad you did it.
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited August 2005
    That`s what I did...except I have it the other way around...mine plugs into the bottom posts...don`t think it matters though

    seems to sound better than the metal jumpers do

    my Parasound amp is set up for bi-wire application, so on the 2 ch rig I use 2 seperate wires...


    how does it sound ?
    did you notice a difference ?

    either way , it looks cool
    thats some fat cable ya got there son..!!!
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
    Magnum Dynalab MD-102 Analog Tuna
    Jolida JD-100 CDP
    Polk Audio LSi9 Speaks (ebony)
    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited August 2005
    beardog03 wrote:
    That`s what I did...except I have it the other way around...mine plugs into the bottom posts...don`t think it matters though

    seems to sound better than the metal jumpers do

    my Parasound amp is set up for bi-wire application, so on the 2 ch rig I use 2 seperate wires...


    how does it sound ?
    did you notice a difference ?

    either way , it looks cool
    thats some fat cable ya got there son..!!!

    Thanks alot Bear. I noticed a definite improvement in sound. I would recommend this "upgrade" to everyone. That is some Acoustic Research 12g cable from Best Buy. The 30 foot spool was $29.99. :D
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • Willow
    Willow Posts: 11,044
    edited August 2005
    Nice job, man you don't waste time. !! :D

    As for bi-wiring I don't know why people do this. I have tried it and for the extra cable price it was not worth the improvement.
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  • DC106
    DC106 Posts: 10
    edited September 2005
    Willow wrote:
    Nice job, man you don't waste time. !! :D

    As for bi-wiring I don't know why people do this. I have tried it and for the extra cable price it was not worth the improvement.

    Maybe I'm missing something, but if you're biwiring, it looks to me like you only need about 2 ft. of extra cable, right?
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited September 2005
    DC106 wrote:
    Maybe I'm missing something, but if you're biwiring, it looks to me like you only need about 2 ft. of extra cable, right?

    Bi-wiring is two sets of full length cable back to the receiver/amp.
    Never Forget
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