To Bi-wire or not to Bi-wire, certainly a question

Posted by: Potiriadis on 08 July 2003

Hello everyone, a problem that I need advice on. I have Kef Q35.2 speakers running of a Flatcapped Nait 3r. At the moment they are bi-wired with Cabletalk 3.1. I want to get some NAC 5a and have a lead on a bargain. My prblem is that everything I have read about the Kef's says that they should be bi-wired when possible, but also that NAIM amps should never be bi-wired. AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!

Please, any opinion valid, coments welcome. I have always bi-wired pre-NAIM, but I have to confess I don't fully understand why or how it is better than single wireing with plates that connect the speaker posts in place.

Regards in advance

Potiriadis

Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Phil Barry

This is of course an experimental question. When I did the experiment, single wires won in a landslide.

My speakers, too, were known to prefer bi-wires, and I had heard the improvement myself when bi-wiring with at least 3 amps (Dyna ST70, Coda, and..I've forgotten). But with my Naim amps, single wire was the way to go.

I used A4 and A5 as jumpers at first, but then I opened up the terminal block and attached both wires to one terminal. I don't know if it sounded better than the A4/5 jumpers, but it SEEMS cleaner....

But YMMV.

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 08 July 2003 by joe90

I totally agree with Phil as I have tried bi-wiring Kefs with Naim amps and the main thing to remember is the Naim amp is a real dictator when it comes to cable choice. Stick with the NACA5.

If you used DIFFERENT amps then the biwiring works great on Kefs!

Joe90

Posted on: 08 July 2003 by Geofiz

I had biwired my KEF Reference 2s from my 135s with both Naca4 and Linn LK20? cable terminated with WBT plugs. When my local dealer loaned me some NACA5 (Naim termination, single run, no biwiring) the increase in musical performance was greater than the recapping of my 135s had been.

Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Potiriadis

Wisdom geatfully received as always, I've got a line on some used terminated NAC a5, if the worst comse to the worst I will simply put it on e-bay, judging by the ferociusness of the three auctions I have lost on ebay for cable, I may eve make some cash out of it.

Regards

Potiriadis

Posted on: 09 July 2003 by Will_Dias

I replaced my Linn K400 biwire cable with a single run of NACA5, double (or 'F') terminated at the speaker end, to replace the terminal links at the speaker. This on Linn Keilidhs, which were designed for bi-wiring. I find the A5 significantly more enjoyable.

Regards,

Will.