The
4344MkII’s
outer connection panel and internal dividing
network are designed so that separate sets of speaker cable can be attached
to the low-frequency transducer and midrange/high-frequency transducer
portions of the dividing network. This is called bi-wiring. Bi-wiring can
provide several sonic advantages and considerably more flexibility in
power amplifier selection. The advantages of bi-wiring are as follows:
The majority of current flowing between an amplifier and speaker is devoted
to bass reproduction. In fact, 60% or more of an amplifier’s output is des-
tined for the woofers. When current flows through a wire, it produces an
electro-magnetic field (EMF) that expands and collapses at a rate equal to
that of the music’s complex frequency components. If a single speaker
wire must conduct the full musical frequency, the preponderance of low-
frequency information can interact with or modulate high frequencies.
The resulting intermodulation can create audible changes to the high
frequencies even before they reach the loudspeakers.
By using separate cables for high and low frequencies, unwanted high-
frequency modulation is avoided. Low-frequency information flows
through one cable while high frequencies flow through another.
Having the opportunity to use separate low- and high-frequency cables
allows you to use cables best suited to each frequency range. Optimally,
you should use high-quality, audiophile-grade speaker cables for both low-
and high-frequency conductors. However, let your ears guide you to the
cables that best match the
4344MkII
loudspeakers to your amplifier.
Bi-wiring also allows you the option of using separate stereo power
amplifiers for left and right speakers, or even four mono amplifiers.
Whether you use two or four amplifiers, it is important to use the same
brand and model to power like connections on the
4344MkII.
Frequency-optimized Cables
No.
10
Reduction of Intermodulation
Bi-Wiring
Amplifier Flexibility
4344 MK 11 Manual 7/21/98 3:18 PM Page 9
