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Running bi-wire cables backwards OK?

I own a pair of Cardas Golden Cross bi-wire speaker cables. (Just to be sure there is no confusion, this is not two separate runs of GC cable, but a single run of cable with a factory split and 4 separate terminations at the speaker end to provide a +/- pair of sub-cables for the LF/bass & and a +/- pair of sub-cables for the HF binding posts.) I just bought a new pair of speakers (Khorus) with bottom-mounted binding posts which are not bi-wirable and will not take both positive spades on the speaker's + binding post, and likewise for the negative spades. However, if I turn the cable around, I can hook both positive spades to the same + terminal on my amp and, likewise for the negative spades. This leaves a single pair of +/- spades to connect to the speaker posts. Seems like this should work. I have not powered up in this configuration yet (only testing out my wiring options right now). Does anyone know if there is any potential drawback, problem, or risk associated with running bi-wire speaker cables backwards like this? I don't think it should matter, but I want to be sure. I know some cables are directional and purportedly sound worse (or different) if run backwarks, but I don't know if this is the case on the Cardas GC. Does anyone know if the GCs are strongly directional? Also, the LF wire coming out of the split bi-wire end is slightly shorter than the HF wire. Accordingly, there would be a very (very) slight difference in impedance between LF strands and HF strands over the full run of each cable (4m). I suspect this would not cause any problem for the amp (can't see why it would), but again, I want to be sure. Anybody see any potential problem with this scheme? I am fond of the GCs and don't want to swap them out, modify them, or have to pay the relatively high fee for reterminating them to single-wire. Any sound advice will be greatly appreciated. Don
djjdf41c
rayhall
393 posts
 
You can run the cable either "backwards", as you define it, "forwards" with the low and high frequency runs connected to the same speaker terminal (positive lead to positive terminal, negative lead to negative terminal) or "forwards" using either just the low frequency run or the high frequency run. If you decide to employ the last configuration described, I would tape the two exposed leads of each unused run (left channel and right) since if they were left exposed there is the possibility of shorting out your amplifier if the exposed leads touch. I have used the last configuration without problems. I have no experience with your brand of wire, but I can't see how it matters. I doubt that the speaker wire is directional. All configurations described should sound the same and should sound identical to a standard single-wired configuration. Why don't you try several out and see? I wouldn't modify the wire since it would reduce the resale value of the wire in addition to the issue of the cost of retermination.
scott99
12 posts
 
Don, I would do as you proposed, hooking up all four leads on the amp end. Should not cause a problem but I will guesss you'll have to go through another break-in period with the reverse signal directions and all the moving around you've had to do. The length difference isn't enough to make a difference.

Maybe you can advertise for a even-up trade with someone who has the single-wired configuration of those same wires. The other guy would get the better deal in terms of resale value, but you'd both get what you want in the end. Good luck

dudleydog63's avatar
dudleydog63
105 posts
 
Don: Directionality in speaker wire is another of those myths dreamed up by the cable guys to differentiate their products. Electricity flows in both directions; always has, always will. As for length, extra feet of length don't make a difference, so a few extra centimeters certainly won't. And whether you use your method (hooking all four speaker ends to your amp) or Rayhall's (terminating two speaker ends and using the other two), the electrical current reaching your speakers will be indistinguishable in most respects.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
Right on, Jostler 3. It has always annoyed me that cable manufacturers and audio dealers perpetuate the myth that cables are "directional". As you note, electricity flows in one direction, and until the laws of physics are repealed, it always will. Ditto for shielding: it works the same, no matter the orientation of the cable. So, DJJD, hook up your cables whichever way works.
rgd
656 posts
 
While this is slightly off the topic I thought there were in fact some "directional" interconnects - had something to do with how the cable was grounded????
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