Directional wires/cables

Some reading material for you.

Directionality of cables

Thanks

Some interesting reading. As always, some different opinions on the subject. I guess I'm in the "It's mostly BS" camp and I'll leave it at that. 

Try them both directions and decide which sounds better to use.  There is no right or wrong way. 

Some cables are directional and it isn't BS.  If they are made from solid core material and cold extruded through progressive dies, the cold forming alters the grain structure in the material and stretches them.  The grain lines up better in the direction of the extrusion and therefore the flow of current.  

Here ya go!

https://www.psaudio.com/blogs/ask-paul/why-do-cables-have-direction

Interesting that he is not a big advocate but says he has heard the difference. I do understand if they are made in such a way that it's intended to be used one way or the other, that it may be more important. It is also interesting to note that he says wire should be used to coincide with the way it was extruded. Most of us will never know how it was made. His suggestion to listen and see if you can hear a difference, makes some sense. If there is anything to it in those cases (IC's without arrows), maybe we just solved how the wire was extruded. I'd be surprised if I can hear that difference but I'll sure try it. Unlike most people, I like to be proven wrong as it means that I got to learn something. I still question burn in with cables as this suggests that they will change with use. I'm pretty skeptical on that but there are folks who claim to hear them change so, who knows.Thanks for all the comments.

Bill

Some cables are shielded in such a way to be directional as well. One end may be grounded and other is floating for instance. 

I guess I’m in the "It’s mostly BS" camp and I’ll leave it at that…I like to be proven wrong as it means that I got to learn something. I still question burn in with cables as this suggests that they will change with use. I’m pretty skeptical on that but there are folks who claim to hear them change so, who knows.

As far as my understanding, some interconnects are grounded or shielded on one end so are designed to be used in one direction but could be wrong with that. But one day I inadvertently installed my digital cable backwards and my system sounded totally broken and I was panicked. I fairly quickly realized my mistake and when I reversed that interconnect everything was great again. I don’t know whether it was the cable’s construction or whether it had been burned in that way, but the difference was severe and unmistakable. For whatever reason, ignore directionality at your peril.