Bi-Amping - if you don't already have cables

xrapidx

Hi Guys

A friend of mine is about to get the same receiver (Onkyo TX-NR807) and speakers (RTi A9s) as myself.... he doesn't have a single cable...

Would it be worth it bi-amping considering he needs to get new cables?

It'll be interesting for me anyway, to hear the difference.

Also, can someone explain to me how banana plugs work with regards to Polk Speakers, does it just plug in the back, and then in the receiver? I've never used them before - and am considering adding them to my cables.

Thanks

hearingimpared

xrapidx wrote: »

Hi Guys

A friend of mine is about to get the same receiver (Onkyo TX-NR807) and speakers (RTi A9s) as myself.... he doesn't have a single cable...

Would it be worth it bi-amping considering he needs to get new cables?

It'll be interesting for me anyway, to hear the difference.

Some say yes, but considering you would be using the back channels which use the same power supply, IMHO no. True bi-amping would use a separate amplifier for either the highs or the lows but you never know until you try it.

xrapidx wrote: »

Also, can someone explain to me how banana plugs work with regards to Polk Speakers, does it just plug in the back, and then in the receiver? I've never used them before - and am considering adding them to my cables.

Thanks

Bananas plug directly into the big hole at the rear of the posts and are more convenient to use especially if you are going to be doing a lot of swapping out. They are sonically as good as using bare wires or spades IMHO.

xrapidx

Thanks - How do I get to the holes? I read the manual - and it says to pry the current connector out, is that correct?

W.r.t. Bi-amping is it worth getting bi-amping cables now, instead of normal cables and then adding the amp later? Because the cables are imported, it'll basically cost the same to get bi-amping cables as it would normal cables - so the question really is if its a worthwhile thing to do.

hearingimpared

xrapidx wrote: »

Thanks - How do I get to the holes? I read the manual - and it says to pry the current connector out, is that correct?

Isn't it a five way binding post? If so, you simply plug the banana into the hole. I don't know about prying connectors out, as I've never heard of this before.

xrapidx wrote: »

W.r.t. Bi-amping is it worth getting bi-amping cables now, instead of normal cables and then adding the amp later? Because the cables are imported, it'll basically cost the same to get bi-amping cables as it would normal cables - so the question really is if its a worthwhile thing to do.

Can you post a link to show the "bi-amping cables?" When I have done bi-amping I used four sets of speaker cables, two for each speaker.

As far as it being worthwhile, I say yes if you are going to use an outboard amp. As far as bi-amping from the receiver as I said there are varying opinions on it.

Toolfan66

Unscrew the red and black caps off,
Then just pop off the little red and black buttons off,
Then screw the red and black caps back on, and your done. you can now use bananas.


If you and your friend want the best of what the RTiA9's can do, you guys need to get an external AMP to run them.Your ears and speakers will love you for it.

Forget bi-amping them with a receiver.

Just my .02

Good Luck..

wutadumsn23

Just pop out the little plug that is in the top of the connector, easy peasy. IMHO, Bi-Wiring, which it is, not Bi-Amping is not worth the cost of the extra speaker wire. If you plan on getting an external amp in the future it wouldn't be a bad idea to get Bi-Amp cables now, so you don't have to get them or a second run of speaker wire in the future. It is up to you.

-Jeff

edit: damn I typed too slow, lol.

hearingimpared

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

Unscrew the red and black caps off,
Then just pop off the little red and black buttons off,
Then screw the red and black caps back on, and your done. you can now use bananas.


If you and your friend want the best of what the RTiA9's can do, you guys need to get an external AMP to run them.Your ears and speakers will love you for it.

Forget bi-amping them with a receiver.

Just my .02

Good Luck..

So on the RTiA9s there are caps covering the rear holes?

wutadumsn23

Yup, just like the Monitors. I have them on my 70's/40's.

-Jeff

Toolfan66

Joe,

The newer RTi series has tiny red and black plugs that cover the hole for using banana's
You have to unscrew the caps to take out the plugs.

hearingimpared

It seems like a waste to me. What are they for, dust caps?

wutadumsn23

I would imagine so, can't think of any other purpose Joe.

-Jeff

Toolfan66

it is a waste, and confusing for a newbe..

hearingimpared

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

Just pop out the little plug that is in the top of the connector, easy peasy. IMHO, Bi-Wiring, which it is, not Bi-Amping is not worth the cost of the extra speaker wire. If you plan on getting an external amp in the future it wouldn't be a bad idea to get Bi-Amp cables now, so you don't have to get them or a second run of speaker wire in the future. It is up to you.

-Jeff

edit: damn I typed too slow, lol.

That depends on the speaker cable you are using. I use MIT bi-wire speaker cables and they make a big improvement in the SQ. I believe the reason for this is that the network in the boxes allow only the high frequencies on the tweeter posts and visa-versa on the low frequency posts.

wutadumsn23

hearingimpared wrote: »

That depends on the speaker cable you are using. I use MIT bi-wire speaker cables and they make a big improvement in the SQ. I believe the reason for this is that the network in the boxes allow only the high frequencies on the tweeter posts and visa-versa on the low frequency posts.

Yeah, I guess a couple thousand dollar set of speaker wires might make a difference Joe, lol. Something I will never have to worry about.

-Jeff

hearingimpared

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

Yeah, I guess a couple thousand dollar set of speaker wires might make a difference Joe, lol. Something I will never have to worry about.

-Jeff

He he he, $1700 new, I got them for $400 used. So never say never Bud!

Toolfan66

IMHO speaker cables do make a difference, but without a good receiver and/or receiver and an amp with good clean power and/or good seperates preamp/amp combo would you really hear a difference? I doubt it.

To me if your running just a basic setup, lower end receiver and speakers. I see no reason for one to spend a lot on speaker wire and expecting the WOW factor..

Again just my .02

Toolfan66

hearingimpared wrote: »

He he he, $1700 new, I got them for $400 used. So never say never Bud!

You a lucky bastage..:)

hearingimpared

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

IMHO speaker cables do make a difference, but without a good receiver and/or receiver and an amp with good clean power and/or good seperates preamp/amp combo would you really hear a difference? I doubt it.

To me if your running just a basic setup, lower end receiver and speakers. I see no reason for one to spend a lot on speaker wire and expecting the WOW factor..

Again just my .02

Agreed! Especially if the speakers aren't up to snuff.

wutadumsn23

hearingimpared wrote: »

He he he, $1700 new, I got them for $400 used. So never say never Bud!

LOL, damn you Joe!!

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

IMHO speaker cables do make a difference, but without a good receiver and/or receiver and an amp with good clean power and/or good seperates preamp/amp combo would you really hear a difference? I doubt it.

To me if your running just a basic setup, lower end receiver and speakers. I see no reason for one to spend a lot on speaker wire and expecting the WOW factor..

Again just my .02

True that, doubt MIT's would make much difference in my setup, although I did get a chance to demo a set of AQ Type 4's and they were pretty nice.

-Jeff

hearingimpared

TOOLFORLIFEFAN wrote: »

You a lucky bastage..:)

Don't force me to call you a forking ice hole! LOL!!!

Hey, I got the deal from a good member here. Besides my MIT speaker cable is an older model but just as effective when used in conjunction with my MIT S3 ICs.

Toolfan66

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

LOL, damn you Joe!!



True that, doubt MIT's would make much difference in my setup, although I did get a chance to demo a set of AQ Type 4's and they were pretty nice.

-Jeff

AQ is one of my favorites, I have type 4 running my fronts in my HT rig.

xrapidx

Well - we both do plan on getting separate amps later on - so maybe he should go with it in the meantime - for my listening pleasure

When I was considering bi-amping - I was going to get these: QED Silver Anniversary XT Speaker Bi-Wire Cable. Purely because they were reasonably priced for the experiment.

Does anyone have any experience with them? As before, it'll cost him roughly the same getting in normal cables as opposed to bi-wire cables.

hearingimpared

xrapidx wrote: »

Well - we both do plan on getting separate amps later on - so maybe he should go with it in the meantime - for my listening pleasure

When I was considering bi-amping - I was going to get these: QED Silver Anniversary XT Speaker Bi-Wire Cable. Purely because they were reasonably priced for the experiment.

Does anyone have any experience with them? As before, it'll cost him roughly the same getting in normal cables as opposed to bi-wire cables.

Now you are confusing me. Bi-wire cables are simply wires that have a Y connector in them and cannot be used for bi-amping.

wutadumsn23

I think he is confusing Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Joe.

-Jeff

hearingimpared

wutadumsn23 wrote: »

I think he is confusing Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Joe.

-Jeff

I believe you are correct Sir!

wutadumsn23

hearingimpared wrote: »

I believe you are correct Sir!

It has happened once or twice, lol.

-Jeff

xrapidx

hearingimpared wrote: »

Now you are confusing me. Bi-wire cables are simply wires that have a Y connector in them and cannot be used for bi-amping.

The ones posted above can be used for bi-amping (4 to 4) or bi-wiring (2 to 4) - when ordering you specify 4 to 4 or 2 to 4 connectors.

In this case, I'm referring to 4 to 4 connectors.

Not sure if I have the terminology correct?

hearingimpared

xrapidx wrote: »

The ones posted above can be used for bi-amping or bi-wiring - when ordering you specify 2 to 4 or 4 to 4 connectors.

In this case, I'm referring to 4 to 4 connectors

Ah now you're talking. I've never listened to those cables before so I can't give you any advice on them except to try them and if you don't like them then you can sell them for not much of a loss.

xrapidx

hearingimpared wrote: »

Ah now you're talking. I've never listened to those cables before so I can't give you any advice on them except to try them and if you don't like them then you can sell them for not much of a loss.

Fortunately - I'm not going to be the tester - my buddy is If I like them maybe I can buy them cheap from him :cool: