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RE: Bi-Wire

My experience says bi-wiring can make a pretty big difference in low-level detail *if* the wire pairs are kept separated for most of their run. My old Spicas, which are not the last word in resolving detail, changed quite a bit, and it was all low-level, mostly harmonics, that came out. It was an "Ah, that's better" moment. I mentioned this to John Bau, who said he wasn't surprised. He also said that had he known what he knows now about ground plane interaction he would have done a number of different things with his speakers.

Then playing with a friend's system, changing from his bi-wire to mono-wire and back made no difference. I forget what his speaker wires were, but they were made up as bi-wires in a common sheath. After going back and forth, we snipped off the sheath and separated the wire pairs. "Ah, that's better."

So I end up thinking Richard Vandersteen probably got it right with the idea that the Hall effect plays a role. (Check any of his speaker owners manuals for a write-up on this.) The most compelling argument for this is the fact that many people hear no difference, and many other people do... and this has been going on for decades. The difference *could* be whether the wires are kept next to each other or separated.

YMMV.

WW
"Put on your high heeled sneakers. Baby, we''re goin'' out tonight.


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