Further follow up for those interested....here is the explanation of how the umbilical is electrically tested, so it couldn’t be backwards, just accidentally labeled backwards...
Three aspects establish the directionality of my designs. The aspect I refer to that is electrically testable is a bonding test, an in-process electrical test whereby electrical continuity is verified of the internal shielding within the outer conduit to the metal shell of the connector on the power supply end of the cable. In my designs the internal shield systems of the cable are drained (wired) only to the power supply end for reasons of increasing performance by enabling any electrical noise absorbed by the shields to be transferred harmlessly away from the music (away from the main preamp chassis). Secondly, and equally crucially, directionality is also established by paying regard to the directionality indicated by the manufacturer of the raw bare conductor. This directionality is stringently retained throughout the assembly process. Finally, the audiodharma Cable Cooker has a directionality of its output signal, and the connections on the Cooker are marked respectively.
Thx for those that have been interested
j