hi--

so, I just ordered my first pair of Axioms (M60 v2's) and I couldn't be more excited. When I was shopping around, I saw some B&W's and Paradigms that were bi-wired with these special cables (or kinda special, i dunno), where they were one pair of connectors at one end and two pairs at the other end. I was thinking of doing this but wasn't sure if I would see any real performance gain (I am using a fairly modest Yamaha RX-V751)...

thanks for any help!

mike

Mike, welcome. You'll certainly enjoy the great sound that your M60s will give you, as long as you give them good source material to work with.

As to bi-wiring(sometimes sarcastically termed "buy-wiring"), no, it isn't significantly different electrically from regular wiring, including when one of those "special cables" is used. All speaker wiring has to divide at the latest when it's inside the speaker enclosure and entering the high and low frequency sections of the crossover. With bi-wiring, the point of division is simply instead moved back to the point where it leaves the amplifier terminals, but nothing else has happened which would be of any audible significance.

There're plenty of fast-buck artists in this business who've learned how handsomely profitable it can be to never underestimate the gullibility of some audiofiles, and offer magic players, amplifiers and even wires. An excellent explanation of speaker wiring by a veteran audio professional is found here . The usual electrical wiring in an appropriate gauge(as suggested by the table in the article)transfers the electrical energy that runs along its outside to your Axioms(or any other speakers)just as well as the stuff which sells for up to a thousand times as much.

Wow, thanks for this great response, John. I was definitely sinking into the overpriced cable zone (it's 1am and I really should sleep but I am just excited, I guess)--this is really great advice. I guess Axiom includes the 4 posts for bi-amping?

anyway, I will definitely check out this page, looks great.

thanks again,
mike

If you want to experiment with bi-wire, try Canare S411 cable. You can get it a BlueJeans

Bi-Wiring can be helpful when/if you have a very long length of cable to run. Essentially, the most important thing about speaker wire is impedance(resistance), the lower the gauge (thicker the cable) the less resistance you will have(a good thing). Lower gauge cable is more expensive and harder to run sometimes, not to mention if it is too big around, you won't be able to connect it to the binding posts. Bi-Wiring has the cumulative effect of lowering the resistance without having to buy super low gauge wire. However, most set-ups won't require this. The first link below has a table for gauge recommendations for runs.

A good article on speaker gauge recommendations for Resistance/Distance:
http://www.audioholics.com/education/cables/speaker-cable-gauge

An article that goes in depth about bi-wiring, and why it has little/no measurable effect on sound:
http://www.audioholics.com/education/cab...erm=bi%20wiring

I biwire--but not really. I have Canare S411 cable, but I leave the binding posts on, thereby actually recieving some of those benefits of the thicker cable and lower resistance. I'm certain that I would not hear a difference between this and 16 gauge wire with the distances I run. But hey, it was something to do.

Just use standard speaker wire of appropriate gauge for the distance. monoprice.oom is a excellent source for cable and wire at a great price.

I bought my cable from bluejeanscable.com which is fairly cheap.

Mono price would give you the same quality wire for even cheaper