(Yet another) bi-wire question

[TN_Polk_Lover]

I try to do as much reading and research as I can before asking a question that I'm sure has been answered many times, but . . .

I think that I know the basics of bi-wiring and the difference between bi-wiring and bi-amping. However, there is one thing I'm not sure about. To bi-wire, do you have to have an amp with A and B speaker connections? In other words, if you have an amp with only one set of binding posts, can you still connect both sets of speaker cables to the one set of binding posts, even though, at the speaker the 2 sets of speaker wires are connected to 2 sets of binding posts?

To further clarify: If an amp has 2 sets of binding posts (typically labeled A and B), internally are both sets of binding posts just connected in parallel to the amp output stage. (I realize that there may be switches involved in order to cut the "A" on or off, or the "B" on or off.) But, other than the switches, is there any circuitry that makes the 2 sets of output posts special or different?

Thanks, everyone. This is a great forum. I don't post that often even though I've been around quite a few years.

[anonymouse]

However, there is one thing I'm not sure about. To bi-wire, do you have to have an amp with A and B speaker connections?

No

In other words, if you have an amp with only one set of binding posts, can you still connect both sets of speaker cables to the one set of binding posts, even though, at the speaker the 2 sets of speaker wires are connected to 2 sets of binding posts?

Yes

To further clarify: If an amp has 2 sets of binding posts (typically labeled A and B), internally are both sets of binding posts just connected in parallel to the amp output stage. (I realize that there may be switches involved in order to cut the "A" on or off, or the "B" on or off.) But, other than the switches, is there any circuitry that makes the 2 sets of output posts special or different?

This varies from amp to amp. On the majority of consumer grade receivers, when you select A+B, it will just connect both sets of binding posts in parallel. On some amps though, there are actually two sets of amplifiers, and you can actually bi-amp with them. I know Denon makes a receiver where it can either be configured in a 7.1 config or a 5.1 config with front biamp config

[PolkWannabie]

But, other than the switches, is there any circuitry that makes the 2 sets of output posts special or different?

On the Sunfire amps for example there are typically what are called output Voltage and Current Source terminals ... The Voltage source is at zero ohms like most sand amps ... The Current source is at ~1 ohm and produces a warmer, tube like sound. One could then for example biwire speakers with the current source ( warmer ) outputs going to the tweets and the voltage source going to the rest.

[just_visiting]

In other words, if you have an amp with only one set of binding posts, can you still connect both sets of speaker cables to the one set of binding posts, even though, at the speaker the 2 sets of speaker wires are connected to 2 sets of binding posts?
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Yes, twist the 2 bare cables together to form one single bare wire and connect it to a receiver or an amp.

[pblanc]

Or you can get a fancy, and expensive, set of four conducter biwire speaker wires which looks a bit neater.