2. cables
  3. 193109-198816

Directional wires/cables

Is there any reason to support the idea that cables, interconnects or any other kind of wiring can be considered directional? It seems that the theory is that carrying current will alter the molecular structure of the wire. I can't find anything that supports this other than in the case of extreme temperature variation. Cryo seems to be a common treatment for wire nowadays. Extreme heat would do something as well, just nothing favorable. No idea if cryo treatment works but who knows. Back to the question, can using the wires in one direction or another actually affect it's performance? Thanks for any thoughts. I do abide by the arrows when I have them. I "mostly" follow directions but I have pondered over this one every time I hook up  a pair.

billpete
wolf_garcia
6,733 posts
 

I respect the directionality of my cables whether it does anything or not. Just makes me feel better. I did buy some amazing Kimber 8PR (Their "bottom" line, improved from previous model, sound astonishingly good and a serious bargain) speaker cable last year and they're NOT directional it seems. Allegedly they develop directionality later...to keep 'em honest, spades on the speaker end and bananas to the amp using their "special" solder sent with the connectors.

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,902 posts
 

I’m not sure that a new cable is directional, but after constant use it could become that way.

timothy468
16 posts
 

Seems confusing. I bought some higher quality cat6 cable to my system and read that they should be oriented from the source to the sound, or words to that effect. So, from the wall is “source”… to a switch. The next short run is to a Roon and a second run to a DAC. Think of a letter Y. I was not sure with my short, fancy and fairly pricy cables which way to put them in to the Roon and the DAC; after all, that Roon signal is bidirectional. I ended up placing the DAC connection as going from the switch to the DAC. But I’m still not sure what to do with the Roon. If all Systems worked in series it’s be easy. But if the signal is bidirectional - who knows?

retiredaudioguy
11 posts
 

An electric current IS the flow of electrons (through a wire e.g.) from the -ve source, through the destination and then back to the +ve terminal of the source.

 

See this article

 

rodman99999
6,185 posts
 

                                           A rewind:

    

       Anyone needing a rationale for experimenting with new fuses, cables or various, "tweaks" in their system and/or feeling dissuaded by the Church of Denyin'tology's antiquated electrical doctrines: take heart!

        Many new electrical facts have been established in the past 100 years, lending support for the audible differences between them.

         I couldn't find anything like, "Updated Electrical Theory For Idiots", but- did manage to find something resembling a cartoon, that even a child could follow.  It neither mentions AC/sinusoidal waves in wires, nor does it go into the photon propagation of electromagnetic waves.   It does, however, emphasize/demonstrate how Electrical Theory has progressed, since the 1800s:

              (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGJqykotjog)

        These next two presuppose a certain amount of knowledge, in the field of modern Electrical Theory.    Click, "more" in the first link's third answer, to get its entirety.    Note how it mentions the OLD, "... commonly held misconception that the flow of electricity through a wire resembles a tube filled with ping pong balls...", to which the Denyin'tologists fervently adhere: 

https://www.quora.com/Are-photons-involved-in-all-forms-of-electricity-for-example-when-it-flows-through-wires?utm_medium=organic&utm_source=google_rich_qa&utm_campaign=google_rich_qa     

                                            and:

        https://van.physics.illinois.edu/qa/listing.php?id=2348

 

                                     per Feynman:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feynman_diagram#Representation_of_physical_reality


        It's an established (measured) fact that an electromagnetic wave's propagation and speed, are dependent on the materials, of which the transmission line (cable) are made (ie: Dielectric Constant/permittivity).     The better (lower) the Dielectric Constant the better the flow and the longer it takes for that material to become polarized.     One reason anything that comprises an RLC circuit (ie: capacitors, cables, PC boards), takes time to, "form", or, "break/burn-in".*      

                                  *Some things that make the Denyin'tologists apoplectic:
   https://resources.pcb.cadence.com/blog/2019-dielectric-constant-of-pcb-substrate-materials-and-signa....
                         The, "conductor" acts as a waveguide 

https://www.feynmanlectures.caltech.edu/II_24.html

          Even the most inane (regarding the Sciences) must admit; braiding and twisting wires eliminates/reduces EMI interference.              
          That must lend credence to various cable geometries.

          That better dielectrics enhance the propagation of electromagnetic waves (ie: your music signal), lends the same credence to choosing cables with better materials (ie: Polypropylene, Teflon, air, etc).

           Of course: anything the Church of Denyin'tology's popes can't fathom, they'll summarily dismiss.

     

         As simple a device as a fuse is: it still carries a sinusoidal signal/voltage, ALWAYS from source to load.

                                                 NOT back and forth!

         Also (as mentioned above): any fuse acts as an RLC circuit, the 'C' of which will be determined by properties of its wave guide's/conductor's surroundings (ie: glass, air, bee's wax, ceramic, end cap materials, etc).

          Any commonly drawn wire will exhibit a chevron pattern in its crystal lattice, so: why not "directionality" and why Ohno Continuous Cast, single crystal wire sounds better, to so many?

 

                   Stated above are scientifically tested, measured and proven facts. 

                                 There is no "contest", or "dispute" involved.

 

          Anyone that feels compelled to harp on not hearing any differences, is obviously too obtuse to understand the term "variables" (as frequently mentioned) and worthy of disregard.

  

          My only goal in these threads has ever been to encourage those with a mind to experiment with their systems, based on the latest (20th/21st Century's) findings of ACTUAL Physics/science and ignore the Cargo Cult's incessant runway building (objections, convolutions, deflections and obfuscations).
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