Some newbie help please!

[admin_exported]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and relatively new to anything more complex than an all in one hi-fi from argos! But I have done a lot of reading and looking about how to get into better audio equipment and have made my first plunge into it.

My current system is:

Marantz CD6004

http://www.johnlewis.com/231682433/Product.aspxMarantz PM6004

Monitor Audio BX2 Speakers on Soundstyle Z1 speaker stands (using atacama speaker gel pads rather then blu-tac, I pushed the boat out!)

Now I'm looking for some decent speaker cables in order to bi-wire my speakers, couple of questions regarding this though as I don't think I am understanding it properly.

Rear of Marantz PM6004

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-cont...ear-inputs.jpg

Rear of BX2 speakers

http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/...91-bx2img2.jpg

1) So my PM6004 has 8 inputs in the speaker section (System A and System B???) and each BX2 has four inputs. So my first question is what is the best way to bi-wire these together? Do i just use a [2 --> 4] speaker cable (2 into the amp and four into the speakers) or is it better to use all 8 inputs/system A and system B ports on the amp somehow (using a 4 --> 4 speaker cable)? Basically I just don't know what the best way is going to be to wire these things together and what would need to go where and need a bit of advice.

I'm looking at these guys here: Chord Carnival SilverScreen Biwire Speaker Cable - FutureShop.co.uk

And the options for purchasing include such things as banana plugs both ends (8 plugs) which would be the 4 --> 4 cable

2) Do I need to remove the gold bar seen in the picture above? If so how am I able to do that?

3) Are bannana clips better than the spades? Are these both even worth the extra money compared to using the bare wire?

4) Is it better to use the specialised four core bi-wireable cables or is it better to use the single core cables?

Sorry if any of these questions have been repeated, I have done a search on the forum but still feel a little lost.

Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated

Thank You, Michael.

 

[BigH]

Hi I'm a newbie on here to, I read on the BX2s review that they thought the BX2s were best single wired.

 

[BigH]

As for cables I would consider Audioquest FLX-SLiP 14/4 £6 a metre or Talk Elect. Talk 3 £4 m. Talk is recommended by one speaker maker.

 

[toyota man]

Hi everyone. I'm new to this forum and relatively new to anything more complex than an all in one hi-fi from argos! But I have done a lot of reading and looking about how to get into better audio equipment and have made my first plunge into it.

My current system is:

Marantz CD6004

http://www.johnlewis.com/231682433/Product.aspxMarantz PM6004

Monitor Audio BX2 Speakers on Soundstyle Z1 speaker stands (using atacama speaker gel pads rather then blu-tac, I pushed the boat out!)

Now I'm looking for some decent speaker cables in order to bi-wire my speakers, couple of questions regarding this though as I don't think I am understanding it properly.

Rear of Marantz PM6004

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-cont...ear-inputs.jpg

Rear of BX2 speakers

http://static.trustedreviews.com/94/...91-bx2img2.jpg

1) So my PM6004 has 8 inputs in the speaker section (System A and System B???) and each BX2 has four inputs. So my first question is what is the best way to bi-wire these together? Do i just use a [2 --> 4] speaker cable (2 into the amp and four into the speakers) or is it better to use all 8 inputs/system A and system B ports on the amp somehow (using a 4 --> 4 speaker cable)? Basically I just don't know what the best way is going to be to wire these things together and what would need to go where and need a bit of advice.

I'm looking at these guys here: Chord Carnival SilverScreen Biwire Speaker Cable - FutureShop.co.uk

And the options for purchasing include such things as banana plugs both ends (8 plugs) which would be the 4 --> 4 cable

2) Do I need to remove the gold bar seen in the picture above? If so how am I able to do that?

3) Are bannana clips better than the spades? Are these both even worth the extra money compared to using the bare wire?

4) Is it better to use the specialised four core bi-wireable cables or is it better to use the single core cables?

Sorry if any of these questions have been repeated, I have done a search on the forum but still feel a little lost.

Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated

Thank You, Michael.

Hi Michael I have mine bi wired 2 blacks joined at amp end and 2 reds joined at amp end for each speaker going to one set of binding posts ( bannan plugs) and then 1 black 1 red to tweeter and 1 black 1 red going to both bass and mid range speakers the links will come out if you undo speaker terminal as you would if you were going to use bare wire to connect speakers

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you so much for your reply. So if I understand you right, is this an example of how your cables are? (in that at the '2' end there are two blacks/reds together in seperate banana clips).

http://www.hifigear.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/400x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/untitled-1_1_105.jpg

And with regard to attaching to the amp, you only use one 'set' of the speaker systems so either System A or System B

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/marantz-pm6004-rear-inputs.jpg

 

[basshound]

Don`t want open one of these but IMO there is not much benefit to be had from bi-wiring

 

[toyota man]

Thank you so much for your reply. So if I understand you right, is this an example of how your cables are? (in that at the '2' end there are two blacks/reds together in seperate banana clips).

http://www.hifigear.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/400x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/u/n/untitled-1_1_105.jpg

And with regard to attaching to the amp, you only use one 'set' of the speaker systems so either System A or System B

http://www.digitaltrends.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/marantz-pm6004-rear-inputs.jpg

I would use set A speaker terminals amp end and remove links on speakers an put 1 black 1 rd to tweeter and 1 blak 1 red to bass mid job done take care as not to short out cables so a check to make sure no cables touch amp end or speaker end ie red and black are not touching each other and also make sure red + black- are on + red - black at anp and speaker end hope this helps

 

[Anonymous]

So something like this?

 

[toyota man]

So something like this?

yes but with the links on speakers removed for bi wire option

 

[Anonymous]

So something like this?

yes but with the links on speakers removed for bi wire option

Lovely thank you so much for your thoughts. Any input to my question about bare wires or banana and spades?

 

[toyota man]

So something like this?

yes but with the links on speakers removed for bi wire option

Lovely thank you so much for your thoughts. Any input to my question about bare wires or banana and spades?

I use banana plugs as I am forever pulling my sytem about and its quick and easy to disconnect everything if you use bare wires be carefull as its easy to short out cables bare wires are also going to be the cheapist option

 

[the record spot]

I ditched bi-wiring in favour of single runs instead a few years ago as it didn't make much of a difference and if anything single wiring was somewhat better.

Cable- wise I now use standard 400-strand OFC cable which I bought from Maplins. It replaced some Audioquest Type IV. My cable cost me £18 for six metres, and you could probably but it cheaper online. Try it out, what do you have to lose?

 

[Overdose]

Any advice would be greatly greatly appreciated

Don't bother with biwiring, it will not bag you any gains, biamping, on the other hand, may, but is rather more expensive. Keep saving your cash and when ready, do a proper upgrade and get new speakers/amp.

Anything else is largely pointless tinkering.

A good quality standard oxygen free copper speaker cable is all that you need, in single wire configuration. Van Damme Studio (or similar) blue 2.5mm to 4mm would do the trick nicely.

Connect the cables by simply stripping the sleeving off and feeding through the terminal posts, far more secure than any other connection, less joints in the run and much better contact.