Bi-wiring help!

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AngryPenguin309
AngryPenguin309 Posts: 9
edited March 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
So tomorrow I am ordering my first real set of speakers that cost more than 50 bucks :eek:

I hear bi-wiring is the way to go in order to get the most out of the speakers, but after reading about it I am still confused as to how I am supposed to do it and with what cables? I will be getting a Harman Kardon HK3480 receiver, and two Polk Audio RTi6's... they are all capable of bi-wiring but after looking at pictures of the back of the HK3480 I am confused as to where I connect what and what wiring to use (banana plugs?)...

HK3480-3.jpg

Any help would be highly appreciated
Post edited by AngryPenguin309 on
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,283
    edited March 2007
    Welcome to the forum, love the name.

    IMO, bi-wiring is overrated. Instead, try replacing the stock jumpers with high quality wire. It's quick, cheap and easy.
    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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  • John K.
    John K. Posts: 822
    edited March 2007
    AP, the best help that can be given to you about bi-wiring is to tell you that the sources you've been hearing that from are apparently misinformed about the process. The only difference would be that the speaker wiring would be split when it leaves the receiver terminals instead of when it enters the speaker terminals. This isn't significant electrically and is simply a waste of money and effort. You'll certainly enjoy your new RTi6s, but bi-wiring can't in reality increase the enjoyment.

    Nevertheless, if you still want to do it, the first thing would be to remove the connecting jumpers on the RTi6 terminals to keep them separate. Since the 3480 has two sets of speaker output terminals, you could use the top terminals to wire the top terminals of the RTi6s and the bottom terminals to wire the bottom terminals, just as if you were wiring up two entirely separate sets of speakers. If you want to use banana plugs for more convenience, that's okay, but bare wire is fine.
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  • liordra
    liordra Posts: 152
    edited March 2007
    John K. wrote:
    This isn't significant electrically and is simply a waste of money and effort.

    I am under the impression, that at the very least with biwiring you increase the "bandwidth" to the speaker, something that might make a difference with standard speaker cables. Am I wrong ??

    P.S
    I know next to nothing about electricity (other then buying stuff which requires electricity that is:) ).
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,283
    edited March 2007
    Liordra,

    K is the resident Anti Audio Hifi Insurgent. 'Nuff said.
    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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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,064
    edited March 2007
    Somebody better put a patent on that phrase......Catchy,ain't it ?
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 19,709
    edited March 2007
    IMO biwiring yeilds nothing except wasted time and energy on your part. Grab a beer instead, that will make more of a difference sonically.:p
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • MillerLiteScott
    MillerLiteScott Posts: 2,564
    edited March 2007
    Might as well grab 2 beers.:rolleyes: Unless you have that remote controlled beer throwing fridge.:D
    I like speakers that are bigger than a small refrigerator but smaller than a big refrigerator:D
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  • liordra
    liordra Posts: 152
    edited March 2007
    MillerLiteScott wrote:
    Might as well grab 2 beers.:rolleyes: Unless you have that remote controlled beer throwing fridge.:D


    I actually googled it, and was AMAZED that there is such a thing
    http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_8560.aspx
    this kinda stuff makes me realize that I need to find away to spend less time at work. :(
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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,798
    edited March 2007
    Somebody better put a patent on that phrase......Catchy,ain't it ?

    Not really. Just a put down to try and stop discussion with those they don't agree with. Seems kind of counter productive on an audio "discussion" board.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,283
    edited March 2007
    What discussion? He regurgitates info gathered from some website that supports his views without having any actual experience himself and never, ever replies to subsequent posts. So again, what discussion?

    The term, Anti Audio Hifi Insurgent fits him to the "T".
    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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  • WilliamM2
    WilliamM2 Posts: 4,798
    edited March 2007
    I was refering to the phrase tonyb seemed to enjoy so much, not this particular discussion. I have seen it thrown at several posters not just JohnK.
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 51,283
    edited March 2007
    Sorry William, but K and only K owns that phrase.
    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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  • liordra
    liordra Posts: 152
    edited March 2007
    A very good "how-to" and "how does it work" explanation:
    http://www.geocities.com/jonrisch/biwiring.htm

    An equally good "You do not want to do it" explanation:
    http://www.sonicdesign.se/biwire.html


    Bottom line? dunno. I'll trust my ears.
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  • tonyb
    tonyb Posts: 33,064
    edited March 2007
    WilliamM2 wrote:
    I was refering to the phrase tonyb seemed to enjoy so much, not this particular discussion. I have seen it thrown at several posters not just JohnK.


    Sorry,I don't own that phrase and have never thrown it around.
    But.....I do think it's flippin' funny and johnk is the only one it gets hurled at.
    HT SYSTEM-
    Sony 850c 4k
    Pioneer elite vhx 21
    Sony 4k BRP
    SVS SB-2000
    Polk Sig. 20's
    Polk FX500 surrounds

    Cables-
    Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
    Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
    Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
    Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable

    Kitchen

    Sonos zp90
    Grant Fidelity tube dac
    B&k 1420
    lsi 9's
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter