Bi-Wire / Bi-Amp Capable
A yes/no specification showing whether a passive speaker supports separate external connections to its bass and treble sections.
Bi-wiring uses two cable runs from one amplifier channel per speaker. Bi-amping uses separate amplifier channels for the two sections. A “yes” identifies a connection option, not a sound-quality rating.
Bi-Wire / Bi-Amp Capable — Loudspeaker
Confirm bass/treble connections in the speaker manual: terminals labelled Main/Height serve different speakers. Follow the amplifier instructions for bi-amp settings and matched gain, meaning equal amplification.
Switch off and unplug amplifiers before changing wiring. Remove or disengage the terminal links as instructed for separate feeds; leaving them connected can join amplifier outputs. For one cable per speaker, keep or restore the links according to the manual.
In passive bi-amping, the speaker’s crossover—the filters dividing bass and treble—remains in use. Extra terminals do not imply an active crossover or guarantee better sound.
Sources
- Four terminals and conventional speaker connections — Klipsch
- Bi-amp settings and terminal links — Yamaha
- Passive bi-amping and connection precautions (pp. 6–7) — Parasound
- Bi-wire or single wire? — Cambridge Audio
Sources
- Bi-wiring and bi-amping: the difference — Klipsch