Directional interconnect cables

Showing my ignorance here, but if analog audio signals are AC, how is there any directionality at all apart from shielding ground?

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 manufacturer’s recommendations, and enjoy the music.

I don't understand either but people hear what they hear and believe what they believe. The one thing I've learned is, apparently, the directional arrows don't always mean that cables should be installed in the direction of music flow which is intuitive but, instead point to the grounded connection. I never knew that and don't consider it intuitive.

Carl109 nailed it. Electrons displace in both directions, that's how the electrical signal is propogated throught the wire; they have to move in both directions to send the AC (i.e. music containing) signal.

Hey, if our speakers and eardrums had to flow in one direction, well that wouldn't work for very long.

Ok, here you go, get some solid core silver wire, (the differences are more discernable then with copper). Mark which direction it comes off the spool. Make a simple twisted pair with the return and the signal running opposite each other. Be sure to indicate this on the RCA jack. Burn in the cable for a day or two on a cooker and then listen both ways. There is a difference, correct has a higher soundstage, greater high freq. information and ambience; wrong way sounds like there is a low ceiling on the venue that is being performed, bass is overblown, and HF info is somewhat MIA.

good luck and have fun, that is what is all about anyway.

BTW is from the late genius and extremely gifted B. Crump