Bob Latham wrote:
In article ,
Serge Auckland wrote:

[Snip]

All you are doing with bi or tri wiring is reducing the resistance from
already low values, increasing the capacitance from normally low values
to still low values, and reducing inductance. Any amplifier/'speaker
combination for which this makes ANY difference is only fit to be used
as a boat anchor.

I've seen these sort of comments before and simply don't understand, I
would be grateful for some clarification.

The amplifier will see the capacitance of two speaker cables and in this
sense they are in parallel which will add the capacitance of each. The
cables are not connected together at the speaker end and don't cover the
same frequency spectrum so in no sense are they in parallel for current
flow to the speaker. Therefore, to my mind, resistance is not changed
anywhere. Where could I connect my fictitious superbly accurate meter to
measure this change in resistance?

The change in "total" resistance comes from the doubling of the 'speaker
cables, and therefore a halving of the total resistance. As each
'speaker cable now carries a lower current, the already small loss down
each 'speaker cable becomes smaller still.

If bi-wiring is used with two identical speaker cables then I can see no
possibility that this will make any difference what so ever.

Correct for all normal lengths of normal 'speaker cable.

Current personal theory coming up. It maybe utter **** but makes sense to
me and matches my experience.

Bi-wiring opens up the possibility of using two different cables and that,
in my experience can make a difference even if it would require one of the
cables to be less than perfect in an engineering sense. In addition if
there is a small level change for a whole loudspeaker that is just less
than audible it has no effect. Take that change and apply it to just part
of the spectrum and now you change the balance of the speaker with the
other (frequency) part acting as a reference making the difference more
obvious. This may well tip the speaker away from the flat response it was
designed for but if this gives the owner more pleasure I don't have a
problem with it.

Again correct. If you change one 'speaker cable for something with a
high resistance, for example, this can modify the frequency response
audibly. If you change one cable for one with a very high capacitance,
and your amplifier is less than stable, then that too could affect the
sound you hear. Your comment above, that it is less than perfect in
engineering terms is apposite. At best bi-wiring makes no difference, at
worse, it makes differences that are perhaps better not made, or that
can be achieved more usually by tone control.

Any room you place the loudspeaker in will modify its
frequency response.

Make that perceived frequency response, and you are right again. There's
no mystery to any of this, it's another example of the hi-fi fraternity
accepting what some mags and shops tell them as truth, without any
engineering rigour being applied.

S.