The Physics of Electricity


Can anyone explain clearly in either common parlance or technical terms the difference between a $1,000.00 cable and/or speaker wire versus a $20.00 (or so) one? What does wire "do" in an expensive cable/wire that an inexpensive cable/wire does not? Does it conduct more or "better" electricity?
llanger
This just in from Furutech,

“Alpha OCC-DUCC Speaker Bulk Cable DSS-4.1

Furutech’s α (Alpha) OCC‐DUCC is one of a select few of conductors that Furutech engineers have found to excel in sound reproduction. α (Alpha) OCC –DUCC is constructed using a combination of DUCC Ultra Crystallized High Purity Copper and Furutech’s world famous Pure Transmission α (Alpha)-OCC.  

Furutech DUCC Ultra Crystallized High Purity Copper -- supplied and regulated with strict quality control by Mitsubishi Materials Industries -- is one of the best conductors Furutech engineers have found for signal transmission. (MMI is the leading manufacturer of the highest-purity oxygen-free copper in the world) Mitsubishi process this extremely pure oxygen-free copper with new technology that optimally aligns the crystals while reducing the number of crystal-grain boundaries resulting in a tremendously efficient conductor. Straight OCC’s benefits are its larger “fibrous” crystals in which one dimension is longer than the other two so as to create as few crystal junctions as possible. Thus, OCC’s sensitivity to directionality; one path exhibits the least resistance. Furutech’s world famous Pure Transmission α-OCC is the result of further processing with the Alpha Super Cryogenic and Demagnetizing treatment. However, DUCC purity goes a significant step further. Mitsubishi Materials designed the new conductor to optimally align the copper crystal grain structure in addition to reducing crystal grain boundaries. As a result, DUCC is less sensitive to directionality than OCC.“
...technology that optimally aligns the crystals while reducing the number of crystal-grain boundaries resulting in a tremendously efficient conductor.


Straight OCC’s benefits are its larger “fibrous” crystals in which one dimension is longer than the other two so as to create as few crystal junctions as possible.


Gee, someone with a lot of solid engineering expertise went through a lot of high priced trouble to reduce the effect of crystal-grain boundaries. So if more is better, or in this case, less is better, would be kinda interesting to speculate what kind of benefit could occur if there were no "crystals" or "crystal junctions" at all eh. But that is the stuff of science fiction ain’t it, though it would make for a very fascinating thought experiment.
Postscript: Furutech is also the company that fills or covers the tiny physical imperfection on the surface of wire using some kind of nano tech. You know, to produce a level playing field for the current traveling on the surface. Similar to the Audioquest technique of highly polishing the wire surface, one assumes. That’s assuming current does actually travel on the surface, which is completely up for grabs. Also, the crystal grains deformed by the pulling through the die operation that lie beneath the surface - what about them? Do they sweep them under the carpet.
But wouldn’t that nano-tech surface treatment require exactly the same electrical parameters as the base carrier to work well ? Otherwise something as elementary as an impedance mismatch would produce reflections that could really complicate an already complisticated situation.

So the idea is have a conductor surface as smooth as a still pond at nightfall that could, say, yield a staggeringly good reflection and not a jumbled chaotic mess akin to noise ....fascinating stuff indeed. The potential if that could be achieved is simply bogglistical eh.
More good stuff. Taking a page from Brilliant Pebbles? They say they aren’t Magic Crystals, so maybe not. 😬

Incorporated into selected Furutech products, NCF features a special crystalline material that has two ‘active’ properties. First, it generates negative ions that eliminate static. Second, it converts thermal energy into far infrared. Furutech combines this remarkable material with nano-sized ceramic particles and carbon powder for their additional ‘piezoelectric effect’ damping properties. The resulting Nano Crystal² Formula is the ultimate electrical and mechanical damping material.

Created by Furutech, it is found exclusively in Furutech products. No other manufacturer goes to the expense and effort that Furutech does to develop and produce high-end audio accessories and cables, and NCF is a cumulative result of 30 years of research and development of Pure Transmission high-end audio grade products.

Furutech has produced decades of unrivaled innovation within the audio industry. We have enabled listeners all over the world to get closer to their favorite music by making it sound as crystal-clear as possible. We have accomplished this enviable feat through careful research based upon solid scientific principles, and exhaustive listening tests to confirm those results.

For example, we have pioneered the use of many revolutionary technologies in our legendary line of Furutech products—the Floating Field Damper, the Two-Stage Cryogenic and Demagnetization Process and many, many others. Now we’re set to transform the audio industry with crystals.

These aren’t “magic” crystals, mind you, but a new crystallized material that actively generates negative ions to eliminate static and converts thermal energy into far infrared. There is nothing mysterious about the way these crystals work—quite simply, they improve audio performance in a very specific and measurable way.