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
Thanks for your input, with which I completely agree, except for "the movement of electrons is the cause when it is the effect". In my view, the two are dual, in the mathematical sense.
It is very simple to me. EM waves move through a vacuum without any movement of electrons. If the same waves move along a wire and the electrons in the wire vibrate in response then the only cause can be the EM wave. The wave can move through various mediums without electron vibration. The electrons can't vibrate without the wave. So which is the cause and which is the effect is very clear.
@hifiman5 
I just meant to imply that the first triumvirate was the one favoring directionality and the second one didn't without regards to actual history.

Just having fun.

As for who'd be a dictator on these thread, I'd have to opt for the role of Lucius Quinctius Cincinnnatus (had to look him up) and remain ever the statesman who, after being called to duty, did his stint and returned to his farm, or in my case, my stereo.

All the best,
Nonoise
@nonoise   I'm sorry.  I was not clear enough.  I was not referring to you as the dictator, rather a frequent "authority", who pontificates authoritarian views here with disturbing frequency.

All the best!
@nonoise  Cincinnatus was a direct role model for George Washington.  Indeed, a statue was made of Washington as a Cincinnatus figure!  Plow and all.  Washington was the quintessential public servant ala Cincinnatus.

Your introduction of history into this thread is welcome as it lends perspective on the present.
@hifiman5 , I didn't take your remark as "me" being a dictator at all. 
No worries here, but I don't see myself as an authority on anything, truth be told. Just another one of many with an opinion, and hopefully a funny one at that. 😇

As for Cincinnatus being a role model for Washington, I can only wish that were a requirement for all succeeding presidents, written on some dusty old parchment, attached to the Constitution. 

All the best,
Nonoise