2. cables
  3. 193109-198816

Directional wires/cables

Is there any reason to support the idea that cables, interconnects or any other kind of wiring can be considered directional? It seems that the theory is that carrying current will alter the molecular structure of the wire. I can't find anything that supports this other than in the case of extreme temperature variation. Cryo seems to be a common treatment for wire nowadays. Extreme heat would do something as well, just nothing favorable. No idea if cryo treatment works but who knows. Back to the question, can using the wires in one direction or another actually affect it's performance? Thanks for any thoughts. I do abide by the arrows when I have them. I "mostly" follow directions but I have pondered over this one every time I hook up  a pair.

billpete
bigtwin's avatar
bigtwin
1,246 posts
 

@jeffbij  Would OCC cable not render the directional question moot, as most cable lengths we use would, in theory anyway, be one single elongated grain?  

retiredaudioguy
11 posts
 

In an audio system the electrons are not flowing from the source to the destination component.  The signals are AC - though a bit asymmetric -so about half the time they are flowing one way and about half the time the other way.

Although, I guess there could be some DC coupled SS pre or DAC (no capacitor on the output) where the signal is a modulated DC voltage.  Has anyone ever measured a DC offset on a source component's output?

For shielded cables where, except for balanced connections, the shield is connected to SIGNAL ground (the outside of an RCA plug) so it is probably true that the source end should be grounded.

billpete OP
9 posts
 

Interesting reading. Thanks for all the participation. It is clear that at least some cables should be used the way they were intended, simply by how they were made. As I said, I have always followed the arrows but always thought that it meant they should point away from the source. I may have misunderstood that but it always seemed logical to me. What about ones that do not have directionality in mind? Will they "learn" to be better in one direction than the other? This would mean that they physically changed over time. This is the part that I struggle with the most. Thanks,

Bill

michaellent's avatar
michaellent
206 posts
 

@retiredaudioguy 

+1
Electrons do not flow through a wire. if they did, they would be collecting at the end wires.  Boy they would be fat. LOL 

If you think electrons flow through the wire, you need to study more

BENT 

 

 

wolf_garcia
6,733 posts
 

I respect the directionality of my cables whether it does anything or not. Just makes me feel better. I did buy some amazing Kimber 8PR (Their "bottom" line, improved from previous model, sound astonishingly good and a serious bargain) speaker cable last year and they're NOT directional it seems. Allegedly they develop directionality later...to keep 'em honest, spades on the speaker end and bananas to the amp using their "special" solder sent with the connectors.

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