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Directional interconnect cables

I see several big-name interconnect vendors mark directional arrows on the outer jacket of the cables.

How is it that a wire can be directional? It's a simple electrical conductor, how is it possible for it to be directional, to sound "better" when connected in one direction vs. the other? This does not make sense to me, perhaps someone here can explain how this can possibly be so...
lupinthe3rd
Post removed 
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Buy favorite cable, install per manufacturer, sit back and enjoy..unless your an obsessive psychopath:)
04rdking's avatar
04rdking
178 posts
 
Well, I'm convinced now.... I'm going to turn my throttle CABLES around. My HOG should run alot better......

LOL......
carl109
134 posts
 
Showing my ignorance here, but if analog audio signals are AC, how is there any directionality at all apart from shielding ground?
04rdking's avatar
04rdking
178 posts
 
To try to get back to the OP's original question. It's not that the wire itself is directional. It's the assembly of the cable as a whole. Some cables have the shield terminated at both ends. Non-directional IMO. Others, have the shield terminated only at one end. In this case, again IMO, the end(s) with the shield termintated should connect to the pre-amp. This will create a single point grounding scheme.

Of course, as some others have said, connect the cables per the manufacturerÂ’s recommendations, and enjoy the music.
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