Speaker Cable Types
Here's a breakdown of the three common speaker cable types there are generally used to connect an amplifier or amplifiers to a pair of speakers. All three types are available to purchase and can be custom made with a choice of terminators. Please contact us if you have any further questions or need advice to help you make the right choice for your audio system.
Standard (Conventional) configuration
Standard or Conventional cables is the most common type of speaker cable. They consist in most applications of two insulated conductors. Which would be a positive and negative conductor at each end of the speaker cable. The diagram shows this type of speaker cable and how they would be connected to the amplifier and the speakers in a standard two-channel system. You can shop this type of cable configuration from the Stereo cable link below. Selecting the right thickness or gauge of cable based on what your system needs, keeping the cable runs as short as possible, and ensuring good connections for optimal sound will all help in getting the best from your system. If you need help or advice in working out which speaker cable is best for you. Contact us with the make and model of your amplifier and speakers that you would like to connect and the length of cable you think you need. We'll help point you in the right direction or even help by making a custom set of cables to suit your needs.
Bi-Wire configuration
Bi-wiring involves running four insulated conductors. This could be in the form of two pairs of cables or a pair of cables in a Bi-wire configuration. The cables run from a single amplifier output to the two sets of binding posts on a speaker, generally labeled for high and low frequencies. The goal of bi-wire speaker cables is to reduce electrical interference between the bass and treble signals by keeping them separate. If your speakers have four binding posts, two positive and two negative terminals (like the speakers in the diagram then you would be able to use bi-wire speaker cables. If you choose to use bi-wire cables, then it is important to remove the bridging plate (if installed) before connecting a pair of bi-wire cables. If you need help or advice in working out if bi-wire speaker cables are suitable for your setup and which cable gauge you would need. Contact us with the make and model of your amplifier and speakers that you would like to connect and the length of cable you think you need. We'll help point you in the right direction or even help by making a custom set of cables to suit your needs.
Bi-AMP configuration
Bi-Amping would be the next step after the bi-wiring configuration of speaker cables. This configuration generally involves multiple amplifiers. Again, your speakers will require four binding posts, two positive and two negatives, and of course if you choose to Bi-Amp you will need to remove the bridging plates. Like Bi-wiring there would be no interference between the treble and bass signals as the signals would be transmitted from different amplifiers. The diagram is a guide to how the cables would be connected. Bi-Amping speaker cables can be custom made with tails long enough to suit your system if you intend on bi-amping with two amplifiers. Some amplifiers such as the Rotel RB-1581 Mono blocks have dual binding posts for left and right signal outputs which makes bi-amping a very easy process. If you need help or advice in working out if bi-Amping speaker cables are suitable for your setup and which cable gauge you would need. Contact us with the make and model of your amplifier(s) and speakers that you would like to connect and the length of cable you think you need. We'll help point you in the right direction or even help by making a custom set of cables to suit your needs.