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Directionality of wire

I am a fan of Chris Sommovigo's Black Cat and Airwave interconnects. I hope he does not mind me quoting him or naming him on this subject, but Chris does not mark directionality of his IC's. I recently wrote him on the subject and he responded that absent shunting off to ground/dialectric designs, the idea of wire directionality is a complete myth. Same with resistors and fuses. My hunch is that 95% of IC "manufacturers", particularly the one man operations of under $500 IC's mark directionality because they think it lends the appearance of technical sophistication and legitimacy. But even among the "big boys", the myth gets thrown around like so much accepted common knowledge. Thoughts? Someone care to educate me on how a simple IC or PC or speaker cable or fuse without a special shunting scheme can possibly have directionality? It was this comment by Stephen Mejias (then of Audioquest and in the context of Herb Reichert's review of the AQ Niagra 1000) that prompts my question;

Thank you for the excellent question. AudioQuest provided an NRG-10 AC cable for the evaluation. Like all AudioQuest cables, our AC cables use solid conductors that are carefully controlled for low-noise directionality. We see this as a benefit for all applications -- one that becomes especially important when discussing our Niagara units. Because our AC cables use conductors that have been properly controlled for low-noise directionality, they complement the Niagara System’s patented Ground-Noise Dissipation Technology. Other AC cables would work, but may or may not allow the Niagara to reach its full potential. If you'd like more information on our use of directionality to minimize the harmful effects of high-frequency noise, please visit http://www.audioquest.com/directionality-its-all-about-noise/ or the Niagara 1000's owner's manual (available on our website).

Thanks again.

Stephen Mejias
AudioQuest


Read more at https://www.stereophile.com/content/gramophone-dreams-15-audioquest-niagara-1000-hifiman-he1000-v2-p...


128x128fsonicsmith
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cleeds
6,038 posts
 

I wrote:
Second, the purpose of the extra shield is to minimize noise. One way to do that is to have all grounds at the same potential.

terry9 sez
But that is already achieved with the negative wire of the balanced line.

We’re talking about single-ended connections here, @terry9, not balanced lines. As I explained to you, pro-audio systems use balanced lines. We’re talking about single-ended cables here with the shield connected at only one end.

In a SE cable, your notion that the shield should be connected to the amplifier end rather than the source end runs contrary to the design of every cable manufacturer of which I’m aware that uses the extra shield. But of course you may know something that no one else understands.

Your complaint that the common grounding point shouldn’t be the phono cartridge pins is amusing, and no one here has suggested that. Phono cartridge pins are not a "common point." A preamplifier is the typical "common point."
terry9
2,354 posts
 
I think that I could have said that more clearly. Instead of
  "But that is already achieved by the negative wire of the balanced line"
perhaps I should have said,
  "But that is already achieved by the negative wire of the 2 wire / 1 shield line."

Does that make sense to you now?

As to my remark about the pins of a phono cartridge, it was you who brought up the notion of source. If you now wish to recant, that's fine with me.

As for my knowing something that no one else understands, why so aggressive Cleeds? Why not discuss things on their merits?

pennsy
152 posts
 
Geoffkait: Your response on my SACD post ( which I removed) had me laughing to the point tears were running down my face! Your dry humor I find amusing! Anyhow, as far as this post! Walter Wegrzyn cable co! He advertises on this site! Search HDMI cables and he will come up! My point: Walter makes custom cables! His HDMI cable (with is directional ) will blow away a Audioquest diamond! I own both! Directional is because copper can be like fish scales under magnification! Certain flow provides less resistance! Actions speak louder than words! Contact Walter! This guys forgotten more than I'll ever know! I almost exclusively use his cables for my system! My system is just short of 6 figures! Opinions are like belly buttons, everybody has one! Buy Walters cables ! You might change your directional opinion!
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cleeds
6,038 posts
 
terry94
As to my remark about the pins of a phono cartridge, it was you who brought up the notion of source. If you now wish to recant, that’s fine with me
There is nothing for me to recant. What I asked was: " What common point do all components in a system share?" A phono cartridge pin is not a "common point" and I never mentioned phono cartridges.

As for my knowing something that no one else understands, why so aggressive Cleeds? Why not discuss things on their merits?
I’m sorry if you saw my observation as "aggressive." I was simply noting that I’m not aware of any manufacturer of SE cables who suggests that the end with the shield connected should be affixed to anything other than the component closest to the source. By your own admission, you have an unusual system with a battery-operated preamplifier, so I can see why the best solution for you might not be the typical configuration.

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