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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
 
I won't say what I want to say, so I will paraphrase. Absolutely Nothing At All. It is a whimsical attempt to use a book of knowledge one person has in one area to justify a potential phenomena, i.e. that fuses are directional, in the framework of audio equipment (debatable of course). 

If fuses do really have directionality w.r.t. detectable sound reproduction (repeatable, testable, verified), then a whole host of other common electrical and electro-thermal properties are far more likely.


jetter1,402 posts10-24-2019 5:27pmJEA and all, WTF. For those of us who have no clue and maybe a bit less interest, what does the answer to above mean to the sound of the music?
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
Somebody and I won’t mention any names didn’t understand Roberttcan the question. The question has little do with directionality per se but is a very general question. What is the audio signal? Hint - it’s not the audio waveform. Or is it? You tell me. There are many reasons why the audio signal can be degraded or improved, no? Better interconnects, better power cords, better amplifier, isolation and other tweaks. So, gentle readers, what change occurs to the “audio signal” that would improve or degrade it? In order to answer that question you have to know what the “audio signal” is, specifically, one would imagine.
roberttcan
248 posts
 
Two words ....

Magic Pebbles


I rest my case.


geoffkait17,701 posts10-24-2019 6:32pmSomebody and I won’t mention any names didn’t understand Roberttcan the question. The question has nothing do with directionality but is a very general question. What is the audio signal? Hint - it’s not the audio waveform. Or is it? You tell me. There are many reasons why the audio signal can be degraded or improved, no? Better interconnects, better power cords, better amplifier, isolation and other tweaks. So, gentle readers, what change occurs to the “audio signal” that would improve or degrade it? In order to answer that question you have to know what the audio signal is one would think.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
I totally get your anger and frustration. 🤡
roberttcan
248 posts
 
I guess you can't be an automotive engineer unless you know how to account for relativistic effects in suspension design.


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