Directional cables - what does that really mean?


Some (most) cables do sound differently depending on which end is connected to which component. It is asserted that the conductor grain orientation is determining the preferential current flow. That might well be, but in most (all) cases the audio signal is AC (electrons going back and forth in the cable), without a DC component to justify a directional flow. Wouldn't that mean that in the 1st order, a phase change should give the same effect as a cable flip?

I'm curious whether there is a different view on this that I have not considered yet.
cbozdog
If there are a “lot of tiny diodes” in the wire as you suggest how do you explain why they would all be in the same direction?

I don't think I said that they would all be in the same direction.  What I said is that even if they are randomly distributed, in term of probability, it is highly unlikely that all these "tiny diodes" would be distributed in such a way that the signal will cancel themselves out.

First I am not an expert in cable manufacturing, but based on what I've read, the way the cables are "drawn" in the manufacturing process, it is possible that these diodes would favor one direction over the other.  

Also, I am just trying to get people to discuss.  Anyone is certain welcomed to chime in.  I am not going to claim I know more about this topic than any others.

In the ordinary world, the one outside of audio, the word directionality has no meaning. It’s strictly an audiophile term.
It is likely that "directionality" if it exists, probably would not affect, says, high speed communication, but we over the years have found out that our hearing is sensitive to things that are difficult to explain and hard to measure ... hence the debate about things such as burn-in and so on.  
There is no evidence to support the idea of tiny diodes occurring in wire or tiny magnets for that matter. As for high-speed communications, as fate would have it directionality shows up in audiophile Ethernet cables, USB cables and HDMI Cables. Directionality is not an issue in any communications, including telephone wires or networks.
There is no evidence to support the idea of tiny diodes occurring in wire or tiny magnets for that matter.
I only repeat what I've read from the article.  I don't know either.  You're guess is as good as mine.

As for high-speed communications, as fate would have it directionality shows up in audiophile Ethernet cables, USB cables and HDMI Cables.
That's is because ultimately your hearing is sensing the difference if it's audio application related. 

What I meant is that in term of other high speed communication that is not audio related, directionality probably not an issue.  I mean there are a bunch of high speed communication that has nothing to do with audiophile.  
What do we know so far? Part 1

The “audio signal” in a wire is a voltage and current. The audio signal is not (rpt not) the music. It is not the musical waveform. It doesn’t become a musical waveform until the speakers produce acoustic waves in the room. The audio signal in a wire is alternating - in most cases the circuit is AC. In a fuse the alternating signal goes back and forth in the same wire. In speaker cables the signal also goes back and forth on both separate wires, the - and +. Push me pull me. 🔛 But we are only interested in the signal moving toward the speakers, the direction that affects the sound. We can forget about the signal when it’s moving in the opposite direction. 🔜 That explains how a wire in an AC circuit can be directional.

Next up, why is a wire non-symmetrical and how does that physical non-symmetry affect current and voltage? And what is the electrical signal - current and voltage - comprised of?
If this is what you have leaned in Part 1, which took four years, I would hate to see what you are going to learn in Part 2 and how long it will take.

….."But we are only interested in the signal moving toward the speakers, the direction that affects the sound. We can forget about the signal when it’s moving in the opposite direction. 🔜 That explains how a wire in an AC circuit can be directional.".....

Color me confused, the above explains that the signal is directional, as it travels towards the speaker, it does not explain why the construction of the wire makes it directional, or whether the construction alters the sound produced whether hooked up one way or another in relation to the extruding process.