Newbie - RF -62II and bi-amping

[crmoores]

Just using a Pioneer 5.1 receiver that doesn't have the biamp or bi-wire caability. If I upgrade the receiver would a 16/4 wire be the choice for bi-amping (rather than 2 separate 16/2 wires)? Any reason that is not recommended?

As far as the wire gage, installers/dealers say 16 is fine for under 80 feet, any problem with using 16 for 60 foot runs? I have CR2 (in wall type) 14/2 but if biamping is recommended I will buy new wire (XX/4).

Just bought the speakers and the receiver (which I will move to the TV when I get the 2 channel receiver) so I would like to set them up next week.

Thanks for your help!

[mustang guy]

Welcome to the forum!

I would use this:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10239&cs_id=1023902&p_id=4040&seq=1&format=2

[crmoores]

Thanks! So biamping is worth the added cost?

[mustang guy]

The installers could come to this forum and debate the use of 16 guage. Most people here say being adequate is not the same as having headroom. The 14 guage gives you headroom. As for biamping, I don't have an opinion one way or the other; however if you think you may ever biamp, then having the 2 pair will come in handy. Here is a wire size calculator which shows adequate wire size. http://www.bcae1.com/images/swfs/speakerwireselectorassistant.swf. Note that 4 ohm speakers require more current, so plug those figures in just in case you ever go 4 ohm.

[crmoores]

OK, I've researched the potential of bi-amping and what I'm hearing is that bi-amping is like a "final tweak" or improvement you can make to your system, BUT you need to have very decent components to take advantage of the improvement (Receiver, CD player, and of course wire). Is this an accurate statement?

I just bought the RF-62II's and have the Pioneer VSX-821-k receiver which does not have the bi-amping capability. I'm not yet sure if I'm using the correct term or if I mean bi-wiring so please excuse my ignorance there. The receiver is a 5.1 channel unit that I may replace with a stereo receiver at some point for a better or warmer sound. I am aiming for a slightly better than average system because I enjoy listening to music, but not necessarily a "high-end" system. Because of my room set-up I will be running wire about 70 ft from receiver to speaker. So my question is should I go with the 4-conductor wire to be able to take advantage of potential bi-amping down the road? Or because I'm not aiming to have a very high-end system just go with 2 conductor 14 gage wire and not worry about bi-amping?

Thanks in advance for your patience, any information regarding bi-amping/bi-wiring is welcome! For a mid-range system I'm just not sure it's worth the extra cost and hardship to run the 4 conductor wire...

[derrickdj1]

Your reciever can be bi-wired with you RF 62II's. Bi-amping requires a separated power supply on your avr, such as, front height or surround back channels found on 7.1 or 7.2 avr's. Power amp can also be used to bi-amping speakers.

[crmoores]

Ok. 2 more questions please.

Can bi-wiring provide a "better" sound (loose term for brevity, maybe more distinct high and lows)? If not what is the benefit, just more power to the speakers?

And would using 16/4 be acceptable for a 60 - 70 ft run? Trying to avoid 14/4 due to size, etc. but I will run that if warranted. I gather running 4 conductor 16 gage is better than 2 conductor 14 gage with same number of strands.

Thanks!

[derrickdj1]

Explain more on what you are trying to accomplis. Why is the speaker wire run so long? Additional information will get others to join the post and help you. The pros and cons of bi-wiring are uncertain do to so many different opinions. If it was a more sure thing, you would see more people raving about it's benefits. This long wire run may make a difference, but others will have more knowledge and can give an opinion.

[crmoores]

The situation is I'm finally replacing an old system and although I love music and quality sound I am going with a "mid-level" system and not a high-end system for various reasons. I purchased the RF-62II's with this in mind - I love the sound but they are not high-end speakers. I'm currently using the 5.1, 110w per channel receiver, I may get a better receiver later if I think I would benefit from that. I know that a nice Marantz can produce a much warmer sound, but I may just stay with this one. I don't understand if this unit can be bi-wired, according to Pioneer it cannot but there seems to be some confusion with the terms biwire & biamp.

The wire run is a given due to room size/configuration. Because of the potential benefit that the biwire/biamp offers I'm looking at 4 conductor wire for a potential future equipment upgrade (receiver & CD player). These speakers have the binding posts that can use the biwire option.

According to Klipsch and dealers a minimum of 16 gage should be used up to 80 ft, here I'm hearing the 14 gage would be the best choice for this 60 ft run for improved "headroom", etc. But keep in mind I am not using higher end equipment where going to the biwire may add a slight improvement. From discussions I've had with dealers it sounds like any improvement gained by biwiring will only be achieved using higher quality, "audiophile grade" equipment and is like a final tweak to an already great system and sound. I am not going to be at this very high level and so my question - should I use 14/2 and forget the biwire option, or run the 16/4 for a potential equipment upgrade that may benefit from biwiring? Or is 16 gage too small to run just the 2 conductors for that length? 14/4 is the other obvious answer to remove any question, it's just so much bigger I'm trying to avoid it.

I don't want to buy and run 2 conductor wire only to find out later I should have run 4 conductor...I would like to run the 16/4 tomorrow but I also don't want to find that because I'm only using 2 conductors the gage is too light.

Thanks!

[crmoores]

I will be going with the 14/4 wire, from what I can tell that's adequate and will cover any bi-wiring opportunities down the road.

Thanks! []

[crmoores]

Scratch that, finally researched the bi-wire and bi-amp benefits and found that there is no actual benefit to biwiring (superposition principle applies), and the audible differences achieved with biamping are subtle, if at all noticeable and are achieved only with "audiophile grade" equipment. Per expert references clipping and speaker damage can be reduced, along with intermodulation distortion and the load presented to the power amplifier. I'm sure these are all huge benefits to 'phile equipment, but with my little system I'll stick with the 2 conductor wire and my current receiver.

Thanks all for your patience, I'm sure I'll have more questions down the road. I do love the sound of these RF-62II's though!