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Interconnect Directionality

Have I lost my mind? I swear that I am hearing differences in the direction I hook up my interconnect cables between my preamp and power amp. These are custom built solid core silver cables with Eichmann bullet plugs. There is no shield so this is not a case where one end of the cable’s shield is grounded and the other isn’t. 

There are four ways ways to hook them up:
Right: Forward. Left: Forward. 
Right: Backward. Left: Backward
Right: Forward. Left: Backward
Right: Backward. Left: Forward. 

There is no difference in construction between forward and backward, but here are my observations:

When they are hooked up forward/backward there appears to be more airy-ness and what appears to be a slight phase difference. When hooked up forward/forward or backward/backward, the image seems more precise like they are more in phase. The difference between forward/forward and backward/backward is that one seems to push the soundstage back a little bit while the other brings it towards you more. 

What could possibly cause this? Does it have something to do with the way the wire is constructed and how the grains are made while drawn through a die? Am I imagining this? Have I completely lost my mind?
mkgus
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
We are beyond that. I just got through pointing out (get it? Pointing?) 😛 the location and direction of Poynting vectors ☝️ in a copper wire are irrelevant to wire directionality arguments. The next thing you know they’ll be saying all wire sounds the same.

But here’s a question for the group. If the “energy” of the electromagnetic wave travels primarily outside the conductor, what about skin effect? Is that a dead donkey all of a sudden?

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skin_effect
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geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
You’re supposed to pick a theory and support it. You can’t have it both ways. I’m willing to listen to any theory regarding the general subject of electricity in wires, how the EM wave can be distorted and wire directionality. I’m willing to listen to either side of the issue you wish to propose.

So, I’ll ask again, If the EM wave “energy” is entirely outside of the wire what does that mean for skin effect?

Also, is current the same thing as the electromagnetic wave? If not, what is the EM wave? This is the Socratic method. Fire at will. 

Keep in mind the subject of this thread is interconnect directionality.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
OK, here we go! The MAGNETIC 🧲 FIELD induced by current traveling through wire is located outside the conductor. Inside the conductor the flux density of the MAGNETIC 🧲 FIELD is zero. The ELECTRIC ⚡️FIELD portion of the ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE is orthogonal to the MAGNETIC 🧲 FIELD which points outward from the conductor. Thus, ELECTRIC FIELDS are also OUTSIDE the conductor. This has all been described by Heaviside and Maxwell. Nevertheless, the ELECTROMAGNETIC WAVE itself is INSIDE the conductor, as are the CURRENT (charge per unit time) and the COPPER FREE ELECTRONS.

Therefore it’s possible that directionality of wire is real, and that there is a physical reason for it. One can easily imagine that the electromagnetic wave (PHOTONS) traveling through the solid copper wire is influenced by the orientation of the copper crystal grain structure, deformed when pulled through the final die. The orientation of the crystals - as I’ve oft opined - can be likened to a porcupine’s quills. The easiest way for photons to propagate is with the grain.

The only thing we don’t know at this point is HOW the crystal grain structure affects the electromagnetic wave such that directionality is audible.
ahofer
225 posts
 
We already know that wire directionality is real and that it’s audible.


When, exactly, was that established. And how?
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