View Full Version : Bi-wire link advice
Just bought a pair of bi-wireable floorstanders and I intend to use a single pair of Tq black sp cables to run them. They don't come with links so without going to ridiculous expense for the Tq links anyone have any suggestions for link material? I have a number of old sp cables that I can chop -supra, Qed and some 6mm twisted copper stuff, will these be suitable or is there a better way, also does it make any difference whether I connect to the hf or lf terminals and then bridge to the other :scratch:?
Any suggestions greatly appreciated
You could cut a short piece of each cable and use as the link using spades. you would only need 6 inches off each at most. you would have to reterminate 2 sides of course.
Cheers Grant, but does it make any difference which I connect to first?
Sounds logical that it won't but what do I know
Not really. usually the cables come with bananas on. so the links are often made with spades, or 2 spades and 2 bananas as you will have 2 spare banana sockets as long as reds go to reds etc and they dont short out with the other ones then thats it.... You can use any decent wire but it would be nice to use the same stuff. you'll get 8 spade connectors on the bay, or 4 and 4 bananas
Cheers bud, i should've thought of chopping the cables and re-terminating them myself:o feel a bit of a fool now,:doh: tis funny how it often takes someone else to point out the glaringly obvious!
Never looked at TQ cable so check its easily reterminated before you have the snip :stalks: :eek:
Never looked at TQ cable so check its easily reterminated before you have the snip :stalks: :eek:
Apparently the inner workings of the TQ are 'unrevealed' so it will require a minor leap of faith.
Apparently the inner workings of the TQ are 'unrevealed' so it will require a minor leap of faith.
That's put the cat among the pigeons Andrei :uhho:as far as I know they are crimped, but I may be wrong
Hopefully someone will be along soon to put me right on the black arts of Tq termination, til then they are staying whole as they are easily the best I've owned and they are not cheap to replace
I,'ll butcher some other cable for now til I get some confirmation, thanks for the input
hifi_dave
05-05-2015, 09:02
According to TQ, you can't properly, terminate the Black and upwards yourself. However, you don't need to if your speakers have the normal Banana terminals. All you need do is to prepare a few inches of your favourite left over cable with bare ends. These can be passed through the holes in the terminals and the bananas of the TQ will fit as normal.
Bi-wiring at no cost..:)
According to TQ, you can't properly, terminate the Black and upwards yourself. However, you don't need to if your speakers have the normal Banana terminals. All you need do is to prepare a few inches of your favourite left over cable with bare ends. These can be passed through the holes in the terminals and the bananas of the TQ will fit as normal.
Bi-wiring at no cost..:)
This. Just use whatever reasonable gauge OFC wiring you have to hand. A few inches of cable in biwire terminals will have zero, zip influence on SQ.
walpurgis
05-05-2015, 09:26
This. Just use whatever reasonable gauge OFC wiring you have to hand. A few inches of cable in biwire terminals will have zero, zip influence on SQ.
Exactly. I used to keep offcuts of OFC Nordost Flatline cable for just that purpose. Worked fine.
(I'm not sure why TQ Black could not be re-terminated. I've not examined any, but I've never seen cable I couldn't work on. That includes some strange Cardas, complex QED Genesis and multi filament Nordost)
hifi_dave
05-05-2015, 10:53
(I'm not sure why TQ Black could not be re-terminated. I've not examined any, but I've never seen cable I couldn't work on. That includes some strange Cardas, complex QED Genesis and multi filament Nordost)
I have no idea except for the dire warnings not to attempt doing it yourself. TQ will happily re-terminate for you, so it's probably wise to accept their advice.
Thanks for all the advice lads, very helpful and informative as usual, I'm glad I asked, I still don't understand what Tq can be doing as I thought you can either solder or crimp bananas on. Do they employ cables ninjas who train from birth in the Art of Termination :punch::laser::D
I'll keep the TQs in one piece and use a short length of surplus OFC as you say
I have 2 lengths of Van Damme UP LCOFC. 6mm full defination cable and got off cuts with it for making links with. Had forgot about them till last week when I was raking in a box. Very good cable so must get some links made up. might be a selling point...it worked with me lol
Bought a metre of Geoffs recommended Nordost for the princely sum of £8.99 off Ebay, much better than the 85quid TQ want for their links.
Sorted, thanks everyone
walpurgis
05-05-2015, 22:33
Bought a metre of Geoffs recommended Nordost for the princely sum of £8.99 off Ebay, much better than the 85quid TQ want for their links.
Sorted, thanks everyone
The copper Flatline speaker cable is all but forgotten these days, but it's actually pretty damn good. I still have some that I rig the speakers up with now and then. Some may say it's bright. I just find it nicely revealing. Well worth a punt at the prices it goes for these days.
walpurgis
05-05-2015, 22:46
You'll have a bit of fun soldering plugs or spades on that, but a bit of patience will do it. I just use four strands for links. I pare them off carefully with a craft knife and tidy the soldered joints with a bit of heat shrink sleeve.
You'll have a bit of fun soldering plugs or spades on that, but a bit of patience will do it. I just use four strands for links. I pare them off carefully with a craft knife and tidy the soldered joints with a bit of heat shrink sleeve.
Sounds like a bit of a challenge, thanks for the advice
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