Jumper cables

July 21, 2006

I recently bought a pair of Meadowlark Kestrel IIs and I am about to purchase speaker cables for them. What are jumper cables, and do I need to use them with my speakers?

Keith

Some speakers are designed so that they perform best with a set of wires running to the high frequencies and another set to the low frequencies. If your Kestrels have two sets of speaker-level inputs (i.e,. two sets of binding posts) then you have such speakers. Your options: You’ll either need jumpers to connect the posts together or you will need to purchase a biwire set of speaker cables. Jumper cables are short bits of wire used to connect biwirable/biampable speakers’ terminals. Biwire cables have two sets of connections for each speaker. Remember that if you use jumpers don’t purchase biwire cables. If you purchase biwire cables don’t use jumpers. Will you be able to tell a sonic difference with biwire cables? Hard to say, but trying it is the best way to find out.

Outlaw receiver power rating

July 17, 2006

When you reviewed the Outlaw RR2150, did you find that the power rating of only 100Wpc limiting? There are many receivers on the market today that have at least 150Wpc and I wonder if I should get one of those to be safe.

Jeff

Don't be fooled by the modest power rating. The Outlaw RR2150 will drive any reasonable speaker to robust output levels. Power ratings have a way of being misleading. Many amplifiers fail to meet published specifications, while others, such the Outlaw, are likely underrated. An important quality for an amplifier to have is the ability to drive low-impedance loads. This will make a modestly rated amplifier sound much more powerful due to its ability to deliver more power into lower speaker impedances. Speakers rarely have an impedance that stays at a constant 8 ohms across the board. The fact is that many receivers can’t drive low impedances; some shut down (protection mode), while some just sound anemic. Receivers or amplifiers with beefy power supplies, on the other hand, will sound much more powerful than they appear on paper. The Outlaw is one such unit.