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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?
128x128mkgus
roberttcan
248 posts
 
... and in a transformer, the moving electrons induce a magnetic field .... and that magnetic field when it intersects with the wires in the secondary causes the electrons to move which induces a voltage potential resulting in an EM wave propagation in the wire.
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roberttcan
248 posts
 
This below is almost too stupid to answer. How long does it take from the time you open the tap to the time the water comes out? ... If in your house, pretty much instant because the pipes are already full.

"If it was the electrons that carried the signal how long would it take from the time a needle was dropped in the groove of a record to the time you would hear the first note from the speakers?"
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roberttcan
248 posts
 
If you are going to be pedantic so will I:

1) The energy in the EM wave causes the electrons to move, the moving electrons impact with tungsten atoms and release phonons, which is what causes the wire to heat up and that causes the emission of photons.

2) NO, the signal, in this case we were talking AC power, but applies to any AC signal, does not move down the wire in one direction. Depending on whether the Live is higher potential than Neutral, or Neutral is higher potential than Live, determine which way the "energy" enters the equipment or is transferred. It defines on an instantaneous basis the electron drift direction. That means that energy is transferred whether electrons are "entering" the fuse or exiting the fuse .... and barring any transmission line effects, which at audio frequencies and fuse sizes will be zero, the bulk model for a fuse, will be the same no matter which way current flows.




"So in a nutshell the signal energy travels down the wire in one direction >>>> from the source to the load in the form of an electromagnetic wave. It’s the energy that causes the light bulb to light. 

It’s the energy that causes the fuse internal wire to melt if the fuse is overloaded. The energy moves in one direction from the source to the load. It does not travel back in forth in the fuse. Agree?"

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