[JudgeBaxter]

Hi Guys,

Sorry if this is a totally noddy question but.....

I'm bi-amping my whole set up. Currently got simple single runs of that £2.50 a metre Audio Innovations Ultra Micro stuff from Richer sounds. Nothing is currently bi-wired or bi-amped so the jumpers are still in place on the back of the speakers etc. etc.

I'm about to buy a second 5 channel amp. Easiest and cheapest option is to simply buy another load of this cable for additional runs to all 5 speakers, BUT...could I also use a 4 core bi-wire speaker cable (or any bi-wire speaker cable for that matter) to bi-amp the speakers with.....

E.G. Van den Hul Black series? I am assuming you can do this, BUT - does the actual bi-amping part of the equation mean you should use two seperate runs to avoid any potential interference / gain a little more quality? OR... am I talking rubbish and a 4 core VDH cable / bi-wire cable etc. will do the job fine and also save me a bit of visable mess with SWMBO?

Sorry again if this is a dummy question.......

Kit is Monitor Audio RS5's all round, RS centre with 2 X Rotel RMB 1075 amp's (hopefully) and Rotel RSP 1068 processor. All of this kit is regarded as being on the brighter side of neutral, and I was just wondering if using a silver plated cable, such as sticking with the Audio Innovations stuff, or buying QED SA XT, or even Monitor Audio's own Pureflow cable......would that add even more brightness and make the system fatiguing over long listening periods?

The system will be used for music as well as movies in the short term (until the pure hi-fi set-up I'm working on is put together anyway), and whilst I don't mind a bright sounding set-up for AV, I do prefer a warmer sound on music....

I'm fully aware that a cable will not make a significant difference......

But any suggestions for a cheapish 'warm' sounding cable that will maybe take the "edge" off the above components sound.....would be greatfully appreciated.

Not looking to spend the earth either....say around £5 per metre budget as I will need almost 50 metres if I end up re-doing the whole lot.

VDH Blue and Black series seem to be well liked and are cheap enough - are they a warmer sounding cable generally than the ones mentioned above?

Cheers and Many thanks in advance,

David.

[deaf cat]

Need to watch out for some biwire cables as they will have one terminal at the amp end and two at the speaker end, where as you want two at both ends to biamp

As for warm cables I can only recall Cardas Cables as being lovely and log fire cosy & warm, but may well be more than £5/m. Profigold IC's I seem to remember as being smooth, no sharp edges - did not try their speaker cable though.

[Canti1982]

I have heard quite a few people use van den hul cable with monitor audio speakers and feel that it works very well.

You certainly want something slightly warm with monitor audio speakers because they can sound a little harsh if you use the wrong type. I used to use chord charnival cables with my old silvers and that proved far too bright.

I switched to the Gold Reference and Atlas cables and things improved greatly.

Bi-amping seemed to help too, it gives that bit more control of the treble.

[JudgeBaxter]

Hi there,

I assume you mean the Van den Hul cables I referred to earlier? i.e. the Blue and Black series ones? They do seem well liked on the forums so if they work well with Monitor Audio kit then this seems like the way to go.

Is the powerbuy on these cables still operative?

Cheers,

David.

[DJBlade]

Van Den Hul CS122 (think thats correct) worked for me when i had the monitor audio silver 8i surround package, i also used Van Den Hul Teatrack to biwire/amp my fronts, superb stuff !

[Joe Fernand]

Hello judgebaxter

I think your mixing up two 'brands' here:

AJ 'Van Den Hul' - has been a mainstay of the mid to high end HiFi market for the last 30 years.

VanDamme - is a cable range targeted at the Pro market that now crosses over into the Consumer market.

If your Bi-amping you need to be very careful with how you connect the cables and yes you can use a four core cable to carry the power from two separate channels of a single or dual power amplifiers.

I think you need to ensure you have a 'confirmed on paper' wiring plan in front of you before you attack the kit.

Joe

PS Yes the AVForums PowerBuy is still active.

[JudgeBaxter]

Thanks for clearing that up Joe - sorry for the confusion between my Van's.....

So a four core cable would be fine to bi-amp with? Such as the VanDamme Black series?

The amps are rated at 120w per channel into 8 ohms, 200w into 4 ohms. The MA's are rated at 6ohms....

They won't ever be driven at anywhere near reference levels as I am conscious that I could/would be putting a lot of power through 100W rms rated speakers, but, with the above in mind would 2.5mm core be sufficient or would 4mm be better with the power that is available?

The VanDamme stuff is copper isn't it? Should be a bit warmer sounding shouldn't it?

cheers,

dave.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello JudgeBaxter

The 4x2.5mm Black Series will be sufficient - some folk will say go with the 4x4.0mm Black Series but that's a 12.2mm drain pipe so not everyone will or can accommodate it plus it can be tricky getting the 4.0mm copper into some plugs/binding posts.

Joe