Definition: bi-wiring

Connecting an amplifier to a single speaker system with two sets of wires. Occasionally deployed in high-end audio systems, the speaker terminals must be bridged together with clips that can be removed to separate the low and high-frequency drivers. The midrange and high-frequency drivers are connected to the same terminals.

Normally, an amplifier channel is wired with one set of cables to all the drivers in the speaker enclosure. Due to the resistance in the wire, the higher current required to reproduce the bass frequencies could impede the high-frequency signals. Bi-wiring is said to eliminate that possibility, but the results may be extremely subtle. Contrast with bi-amping.

Bi-Wiring and One Amplifier

With two sets of cables, the current flow from the bass notes is removed from the signal path for the high frequencies.