How to connect speakers with 4 wires into hi fi with only 2 sockets for each speaker?

lew

I would like to upgrade my hi fi by using better quality speakers. The hi fi has two sockets for each speaker, which has two wires each. My better speakers, with sub woofer have four wires each. Is it possible to use these speakers and how would I wire them up, please? Thanks.

aliEnRIK

Assuming theyre normal speakers then yes. Do you know the make and model?
Simply attach 4 wires to each speaker and 2 joined at the amplifier side (2 red and 2 black). This is called 'bi wiring'

OR

You can simply attach them at the speaker end (Though this WOULDNT be biwiring and wouldnt sound as good (theoretically))

love-hearts

Careful you don't blow the amp in your hifi.

fwor

If the speakers are new, they will almost certainly be supplied with metal link bars or short lengths of wire which connect the two red and two black terminals together at the back of the speaker. You can then use two wires as normal.

If they are secondhand, it's possible that the previous owner has lost the links, in which case you just need to make your own out of short lengths of wire.

Another option would be to bi-wire, where you take two wires from each terminal at the amplifier end and terminate each wire on one of the two terminals at the speaker end. Some people reckon this improves the sound quality, though when I tried it I could hear no improvement...

aliEnRIK

fwor wrote: »

Some people reckon this improves the sound quality, though when I tried it I could hear no improvement...

Really depends on the speakers used and the general setup
Mine certainly makes a difference

fwor

aliEnRIK wrote: »

Really depends on the speakers used and the general setup
Mine certainly makes a difference

It's difficult to find a believable explanation for why it should, because the impedance of the wire is so low compared to that of the amp and speaker (unless you are using very thin cables).

I bi-amp instead, with two amp channels per speaker, and that really does make a difference.

aliEnRIK

fwor wrote: »

It's difficult to find a believable explanation for why it should, because the impedance of the wire is so low compared to that of the amp and speaker (unless you are using very thin cables).

I bi-amp instead, with two amp channels per speaker, and that really does make a difference.

I bi-amp NOW (I was talking about when I did bi-wire)
I offer no explanations. Simply that it sounded better overall (More detail, deeper bass etc)

Though to be clear ~ bi-amping was a FAR greater difference