Biwiring jumpers

W

watchdog

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I recently had a listen to two B&W based systems.

The first one was a lovely system on paper, with full Accuphase electronics and a B&W 805D. I found the system quite harsh and bright, but the system took a dramatic change when we swapped the loudspeaker cable from the upper terminals (the tweeters) to the lower terminals. He was not biwiring the speakers, and was using some aftermarket jumper cables to bridge the terminals.

Both myself and the owner were very surprised that such a simple change could result in so much difference.

A few weeks later, another friend invited me over to have a listen to his B&W804D, and wanted some input on how to make the sound warmer and more liquid. I noticed that he had wired the cables the same way, and we got similar results when we moved the cables to the woofer terminals.

It may not work for everyone, but perhaps B&W owners that are wiring their speakers this way may want to give this a shot and report back ?
 
You should not have noticed a change like that.

There must have been a bad connection the first time.
 
In theory, I fully agree. I did check the connections and they were fine before we swapped them.
 
watchdog said:
I recently had a listen to two B&W based systems.

The first one was a lovely system on paper, with full Accuphase electronics and a B&W 805D. I found the system quite harsh and bright, but the system took a dramatic change when we swapped the loudspeaker cable from the upper terminals (the tweeters) to the lower terminals. He was not biwiring the speakers, and was using some aftermarket jumper cables to bridge the terminals.

Both myself and the owner were very surprised that such a simple change could result in so much difference.

A few weeks later, another friend invited me over to have a listen to his B&W804D, and wanted some input on how to make the sound warmer and more liquid. I noticed that he had wired the cables the same way, and we got similar results when we moved the cables to the woofer terminals.

It may not work for everyone, but perhaps B&W owners that are wiring their speakers this way may want to give this a shot and report back ?
Click to expand...

I'm not surprised at all on the results. When you using a single wire on bi-wire post it always sounds fuller on woofer terminals. You will find the different sounds again once you put the - on the bottom and + to the top terminal.

I have the PMC IB2i with tri -wiring terminals and I played with them a lot ....What a different sounds I get on each terminal connections...wow.

It's all fun to play with :)

P.S: Did you change the factory jumpers to Pure copper or Pure silver jumpers ? It will surprise you again with the sound change.
 
BlueMcIntosh said:
I'm not surprised at all on the results. When you using a single wire on bi-wire post it always sounds fuller on woofer terminals. You will find the different sounds again once you put the - on the bottom and + to the top terminal.
Click to expand...


Yes, I've heard that method in the past and it seems to hit a nice balance between too top heavy and too bottom heavy. No idea (electrically) why moving these wires should make any difference at all, let alone bi-wiring. But I do it and it does improve the sound.
 
BlueMcIntosh,

The factory supplied jumpers are not the usual brass links but copper wires with spades on one end, and bananas on the other. The 805D owner had 2 different sets of after market jumpers made to order - there was a difference on each, but not as dramatic as moving from the upper terminals to lower terminals.
 
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ARC4LIFE
 
Hi, Try the Red Speaker cable Hot + to the Bottom Woofer input--jumper to the +Tweeter input

The Black Speaker cable - to the Top- Tweeter input--jumper to the Bottom - Woofer input

B
 
Interesting...a few weeks ago, i pulled out an old pair of TA Ref jumpers from when i owned SF Guarneris. I used them in place of the solid copper buss for my Wilson X1s...smoother, but lost detail and realism thru dynamic attack. i then used the jumpers IN ADDITION to the copper buss...wow! best of both worlds...and extremely dextrous bass with greater clarity and ability to delineate syncopated deep house bath rhythm. But the treble was a bit rolled off...

By coincidence, my local Focal Dealer had just ordered TA Ref XL jumpers (5 sets) to replace all the stock jumpers that come with the Grande Utopia EM...they now demonstrate the speaker with them. I borrowed the XL jumper and found the treble more open.

Ultimately, i ordered the TA Ref MM (there is no Opus since there is no network box on jumper and the cable part is the same)...and am extremely happy while it settles into the system.
 
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