Cable directionality

Bigtree - Here is why your single-wire scenerio worked: The return current for the signal was running through the ground of the power cords of the two components. This is simply batteries and bilbs. The current flowing in the signal wire must return on another wire. The optimum scenerio is that the wire is identical in length and type and running alongside the signal wire. This will minimize noise in the signal. If you dont run a current-return wire, you risk inducing a lot of noise, like your radio station for instance, or 60 Hz hum. As for shields that are unconnected, this is only possible in cases where there is already a signal and return wire present. There is no current running in the shield because it is only connected at one end and this provides a partial "faraday cage" that will prevent EMI from being picked-up by the internal two conductors.

seandtaylor99 - I have also tried it and found no difference in my particular system. I believe that the results are very system-dependent. In systems with poor grounding, it could make a big difference in theory.

BTW - I am also an EE with 26 years experience, and a cable company to boot!

Audioengr, So, lets take a 60HZ signal and run it down the "Signal carrying" wire. Since this would be the same as a 60hz sine wave, are you trying to say that the positive half cycle goes down one wire and the negative half cycle comes back on the ground? We are talking about AC here. Hate to disagree, but I don't think so. Also, we cannot have current without voltage since volts push amps. In less than 120 volt applications, we have one line of potential(as in house wiring)and according to your described theory the ground(neutral) would also have be a hot wire since each half cycle would need to be equal with respect to volts and amps on each conductor. It must return on another wire according to this theory and that would be the neutral. In 35 years of being around electricity in various forms, I've never had the need to measure the ground except when we had an electrical "Short" popping people. However, I am a ME and design air conditioning systems. I will present your theory to my EE friends. If they agree, I will humbly apologize to you in this forum and will consider myself enlightened!

Seandtaylor99, no accusations were made or intended (and I don't think that clarity and open-mindedness are necessarily mutually exclusive qualities). I'm just observing an analogy between the debates on sonics that pervade these forums, and the apparent capacity for trained engineers to take each other to task over their explanations. I will readily admit to having a certain degree of automatic respect for all the engineers who contribute on A'gon, and do not engage in "bashing" them as a group (if that indeed exists here at all). Anybody can suffer from an inability to hear, not just engineers! :-)

P.S. - As for "what we want" from you guys, it appears in actuality to be beautiful sound at any price, but personally, I'd settle for realistic sound at a price that's likewise...heh, heh...

Zaikesman---Amen brother!