So you think wire conductors in cables are directional? Think again...

No.

Also, these things are measurable by science.

It is just not worth it (Read cost effective) to spend considerable time and expense on cable directional issues for audio signals. For power transmission or distribution circuits from power systems, then cable science makes sense to pursue. in order to keep high voltage  transmission line losses low.

also, for audio or power cord cables, it comes down to:
1.  Impedance
2.  Capacitance (included in impedance) loading
3.  inductance loading (included in impedance)
4.  Resistance (included in impedance)
5.  Skin effect (maybe)
6.  voltage capability
7.  Current capability
8.  Costs to design/construct

Unless there is serious scientific reason why, (or serious money involved),Engineers will not be concerned with low level cable signal direction.

enjoy

The reason that some manufacturers put the arrow on the wire is because they made the wire and know which way the copper was drawn through the dies when it was manufactured the other manufacturers listen for best sound but i can understand how the sound would be better in the direction the copper was drawn out it is the best explanation i have ever heard about this.

andy21,286 posts05-13-2021 2:52pmKind of funny the RF folks now are criticizing about cable directional. RF folks are known for their measurements so they have to live and die by it.
If you insist on measurement, you got to put up or shut up.

In RF, there is something called "insertion loss" or RF people would call it "SD21" or "SD12". SD21 is the insertion loss in one direction whereas SD12 is insertion loss in the other direction. And these are never the same especially in RF. You measure insertion loss in one direction, then the other direction, and the results are close but never the same.

Also if RF folks also are making fun of cable lifters, remember that RF cables are very sensitive to the cable bending. If you bend the cable just slightly, your SD21 will change. Expensive RF cables are less sensitive but they all are.  

You see, there a lot of these voodoo scientists ... errr... I meant "objectivist". They keep pounding on the word "measurements", but they themselves can't withstand close scrutiny. A lot of these people are using the word "measurement" as a mean to an agenda but a lot of them don't know what they are talking about.



RF and audio spectrums are completely different. CAT cables operate in megahertz with the twisted pairs needing to be in sweeping bends so as not to cause interference/crosstalk with the delivery of digital data packets. Completely different signal delivery system than analog AC current signal.

If wire had directionality to audio signals somebody would already have invented a device to measure and quantify it! So where's this device?

It's called a vector network analyzer.

But hey, he's only a recording engineer working with Pink Floyd so what do they know?

 Really interesting article. Thanks for the link.