Interconnects, some have directional indicators, why?

Geoffkait 12-5-2016
Current traveling down the wire generates a *magnetic field" - that’s the *induced magnetic field* and has absolutely nothing to do with either an em field or the *electromagnetic wave* that is the audio signal. The induced magnetic field is stationary, obeys the right hand rule, whereas the electromagnetic wave (audio signal) travels at near light speed, as I’ve described.

Geoff, I believe this is not correct. It would be more correct for DC, but as you'll realize AC (including audio signals) is continuously changing in both amplitude and polarity. And the magnetic field described by the right hand rule will therefore be continuously changing in both magnitude and direction.

Also, in the context of a signal propagating along a cable I believe it is incorrect to distinguish between an "induced magnetic field" (stationary or otherwise) and the "electromagnetic wave that is the audio signal." There is simply a magnetic field and an electric field. These two fields are what propagate at near light speed.

That said, much of the discussion of these matters, while perhaps of academic interest to a few, IMO has little if any practical relevance.  

Regards,
-- Al

P.S:  My thanks are extended to Marqmike for his gracious if perhaps somewhat premature comment :-)

sorry to say, Al, but I disagree with just about everything you just posted. oh, well...c'est la vie. specifically, as i just got through saying, the induced magnetic field is stationary whereas the electromagnetic field, you know, the thing comprised of photons, is light speed. atmasphere is mixed up and if you wish to defend him it's no skin off my nose. 

Current in the wire is a flow of electric charge. Wire creates magnetic field but transports charges and not the energy. Energy is transferred thru magnetic field from the source to the load.
The load has some voltage drop in it, hence electric field. Together with magnetic field, this brings the energy in. Same way, the source generates voltage and, together with magnetic field, this brings the energy out.
Direction of electromagnetic energy flow is determined by the Poynting vector, E × H, and depends on both voltage polarity (through E) and current direction (through H).
As I understand it, even in DC circuit energy flows from source to load thru the space in direction of Poynting Vector.

Can anyone please show the result of a scientifically performed double blind test using, let's say, 10 different manufacturers brand new 4' cables connected in the two different directions but otherwise identical and a panel of 10 listeners?

Then the cables should be "burnt-in" for a period of one month. the test repeated and then reversed and "burnt-in" again for the same period and a third test performed using the same identical set-up.

If the result is 2/3-1/3 or more in favor of one direction it would be a statistically significantly proven fact that inherent cable directionality is indeed relevant…

Personally I have never noticed any difference when turning a symmetrically terminated interconnect cable around but that is of course no proof that directionality do not indeed exist in some cases.

The current flow in unbalanced IC's is negligible. Input impedances are in the order of 5-100Kohms so it's basically only voltage changes that are relevant. Speaker cables are a different thing. When powering speakers current is the major factor (except for electrostatic loudspeakers).

Maxwells equations are of course still relevant in IC's but I must say that some people do make some very uneducated scientific remarks in this discussion.

There are basically the following factors:
1. Voltage
2. Current
3. Resistance
4. Capacitance
5. Inductance
6. Impurities in the material
7. Self induction

Factors that are all statistically the same for the whole length of a cable so where does inherent directionality fit in?

I'm not saying that inherent directionality does not exist but until someone presents a double blind test along the lines of the test suggested above I'm very sceptical about it's existence since it does not make any sense at all theoretically. Even if you turn the cable around the strands are still twisted the same way and every other factor also remains the same.

Could it be that the extrusion process would impart an inherit direction? Not very likely since atoms are 100% symmetrical and identical and all impurities in the material are distributed completely at random. The whole concept of inherent directionality in cables just does not make any sense to me as a scientist and if it really does exist it must be possible to scientifically explain the reasons for it.

Can someone please do THAT? Not just present a lot of hocus-pocus statements that have no scientific relevance at all...